Fayetteville, N.C. — The Fayetteville City Council approved a resolution Wednesday night that supports an annexation plan that would make it North Carolina's fifth-largest city.

The plan would make 85 percent of Fort Bragg officially part of the city. The remaining part of the post would become part of Spring Lake.

The bill is making its way through the state General Assembly with a suggested implementation date of June 30.

The addition would increase Fayetteville's population from about 168,000 to about 206,000.

Spring Lake would gain 5,000 residents, a jump of more than 50 percent from its population of about 8,000 in the 2000 census.

Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne said the case is unique because annexation usually adds to a city's tax base and need for services. Fort Bragg, as federal property, is exempt from taxes and already has its own services, such as fire and police protection.

The move would allow the post to connect to the water supply from the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, however.

The new border would be the same one that historically had divided Pope Air Force Base from the Army post, Fayetteville City Manager Dale Iman said.

The portion of the post that was previously Air Force property would be annexed by Spring Lake; the former Army property is to become part of Fayetteville.