36-36-119. Good faith negotiations; written agreement governing terms of annexation.

The county, the municipal governing authorities, and the property owner or owners shall negotiate in good faith throughout the annexation proceedings provided by this article and may at any time enter into a written agreement governing the annexation. Such agreement may provide for changing the zoning, land use, or density of the annexed property during a period of less than two years. If such agreement is reached after the arbitration panel has been appointed and before its dissolution, such agreement shall be adopted by the panel as its findings and recommendations. If such agreement is reached after an appeal is filed in the superior court and before the court issues an order, such agreement shall be made a part of the court’s order. Any agreement reached as provided in this Code section shall be recorded as provided in Code Section 36-36-115. Copies of such agreement shall also be provided by the parties to the department in the same manner as the findings and recommendations of an arbitration panel.