As used in this Division: Blighted Area shall mean an area in which a majority of buildings have declined in productivity by reason of obsolescence, depreciation or other causes to an extent they no longer justify fundamental repairs and adequate maintenance. Bonds shall mean any bonds (including refunding bonds), notes, interim certificates, certificates of indebtedness, debentures or other obligations. Federal Government shall include the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America. Slum Area shall mean any area where dwellings predominate, which, by reason of depreciation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities, or any combination of these factors, are detrimental to the public safety, health or morals. Urban Renewal Area shall mean a slum area or a blighted area or a combination thereof which the County designates as appropriate for an urban renewal project. Urban Renewal Plan shall mean a plan, as it exists from time to time, for an urban renewal project, which plan shall be sufficiently complete to indicate such land acquisition, demolition and removal of structures, redevelopment, improvements, and rehabilitation as may be proposed to be carried out in the urban renewal area, zoning and planning changes, if any, land uses, maximum density and building requirements. Urban Renewal Project shall mean undertakings and activities of the County in an urban renewal area for the elimination and for the prevention of the development or spread of slums and blight, and may involve slum clearance and redevelopment in an urban renewal area, or rehabilitation or conservation in an urban renewal area, or any combination or part thereof in accordance with an urban renewal plan. Such undertakings and activities may include: Acquisition of a slum area or a blighted area or portion thereof; Demolition and removal of buildings and improvements; Installation, construction or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds and other improvements necessary for carrying out in the urban renewal area the urban renewal objectives of this Division in accordance with the urban renewal plan; Disposition of any property acquired in the urban renewal area including sale, initial leasing or retention by the County itself, at its fair value for uses in accordance with the urban renewal plan; Carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements in accordance with the urban renewal plan; Acquisition of any other real property in the urban renewal area where necessary to eliminate unhealthful, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, lessen density, eliminate obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare, or otherwise to remove or prevent the spread of blight or deterioration, or to provide land for needed public facilities.

The Council shall carry out urban renewal projects in all areas; provided, however, that the consent of the governing body of any incorporated municipality shall be obtained as a prerequisite to the County undertaking any urban renewal project within the territorial boundaries of incorporated towns or cities. The County shall include within the urban renewal project the total parcels of land, or any designated portion thereof severed by the territorial boundaries of any two (2) or more incorporated towns or cities with the consent of the governing body of the area or areas included. Urban renewal shall be limited to slum clearance in slum or blighted areas and redevelopment or the rehabilitation of slum or blighted areas. The Council shall have the power to: Acquire in connection with such projects, within the corporate limits of the County, land and property of every kind and any right, interest, franchise, easement, or privilege therein, including land or property and any right or interest therein already devoted to public use, by purchase, lease, gift, condemnation, or any other legal means; Sell, lease, convey, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of the land or property, regardless of whether or not it has been developed, redeveloped, altered, or improved and irrespective of the manner or means in or by which it may have been acquired, to any private, public or quasi-public corporation, partnership, association, person, or other legal entity. No land or property taken by the County for any of the aforementioned purposes or in connection with the exercise of any of the powers of the County under this Division by the exercise of the power of eminent domain shall be taken without just compensation, as agreed upon between the parties, or awarded by a jury, being first paid or tendered to the party entitled to such compensation. All land or property needed or taken by the exercise of the power of eminent domain by the County for any of the aforementioned purposes or in connection with the exercise of any of the powers of the County under this Division is declared to be needed or taken for public uses and purposes. Any or all of the activities authorized pursuant to this Division shall constitute governmental functions undertaken for public uses and purposes and the power of taxation may be exercised, public funds expended and public credit extended in furtherance thereof.

Council shall have the following powers which are necessary and proper to carry into full force and effect the specific powers granted in Section 2-255 and to fully accomplish the purposes and objects contemplated by the provisions of this Division. Make or have made all surveys and plans necessary to the carrying out of the purposes of this Division and to adopt or approve, modify and amend such plans, which plans may include but shall not be limited to: Plans for carrying out a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings and improvements; Plans for the enforcement of codes and regulations relating to the use of land and the use of occupancy of buildings and improvements and to the compulsory repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal of buildings and improvements; and, Appraisals, title searches, surveys, studies, and other plans and work necessary to prepare for the undertaking of urban renewal projects and related activities; and to apply for, accept, and utilize grants of funds from the Federal Government for such purposes; Prepare plans for the relocation of persons (including families, business concerns, and others) displaced from an urban renewal area, and to make relocation payments to or with respect to such persons for moving expenses and losses of property for which reimbursement or compensation is not otherwise made, including the making of such payments financed by the Federal Government; Appropriate such funds and make such expenditures as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Division, including the payment or reimbursement of reasonable actual costs incurred as a result of utility relocations when such relocations are made necessary by an urban renewal project, after making appropriate adjustment for any improvements or betterments to the utility's facilities made in connection with the relocation; and to levy taxes and assessments for such purposes; to borrow money and to apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions, and any other form of financial assistance from the Federal Government, the State, or other public bodies, or from any sources, public or private, for the purposes of this Division, and to give such security as may be required therefor; to invest any urban renewal funds held in reserves or sinking funds or any such funds not required for immediate disbursement, in property or securities which are legal investments for other County funds. Hold, improve, clear, or prepare for redevelopment any property acquired in connection with urban renewal projects; to mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise encumber such property; to insure or provide for the insurance of such property or operations of the County against any risks or hazards, including the power to pay premiums on any such insurance; Make and execute all contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers under this Division, including the power to enter into agreement with any other public bodies or agencies (which agreements may extend over any period, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary), and to include in any contract for financial assistance with the Federal Government for or with respect to an urban renewal project and related activities such conditions imposed pursuant to Federal laws as the County may deem reasonable and appropriate; Enter into any building or property in any urban renewal area in order to make inspections, surveys, appraisals, soundings, or test borings, and to obtain an order for this purpose from the Circuit Court in the event entry is denied or resisted; Plan, replan, install, construct, reconstruct, repair, close, or vacate streets, roads, sidewalks, public utilities, parks, playgrounds, and other public improvements in connection with an urban renewal project; providing the same is approved by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission within the regional district and to make exceptions from building regulations; Generally organize, coordinate and direct the administration of the provisions of this Division as they apply to the County in order that the objective of remedying slum and blighted areas and preventing the causes thereof within the County may be most effectively promoted and achieved; and, Exercise all or any part or combination of powers granted in this Section.

The Council may itself exercise all the powers contained in this Division or may, if the Council by legislative act determines such action to be in the public interest, elect to have such powers exercised by a separate public body or agency as hereinafter provided. In the event the Council makes such determination, it shall proceed by ordinance to establish a public body or agency to undertake in the County the activities authorized by this Division. Such legislative act shall include provisions establishing the number of members of such public body or agency, the manner of their appointment and removal, the terms of the members and their compensation. The legislative act may include such additional provisions relating to the organization of the public body or agency as may be necessary. In the event the Council enacts such a law, all of the powers under this Division shall, from the effective date of the Act, be vested in the public body or agency thereby established, except: The power to pass a resolution to initiate an urban renewal project pursuant to Section 2-258; The power to issue general obligation bonds pursuant to Section 2-268; The power to appropriate funds, and to levy taxes and assessments pursuant to Section 2-256(a)(3).

In order to initiate an urban renewal project, the Council shall adopt an act which: Finds that one or more slum or blighted areas exist in the County; Locates and defines the slum or blighted areas; Finds that the rehabilitation, redevelopment, or a combination thereof, of such area or areas, is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety, morals, or welfare of the residents of the County; and, With respect to incorporated areas, the Council shall comply with Subsections (a)(1), (2), and (3) of this Section and make a request to the municipality to initiate the project.

The Council, in order to carry out the purposes of this Division, shall prepare or cause to be prepared an urban renewal plan for slum or blighted areas in the County, and shall formally approve such plan. Prior to its approval of an urban renewal project, the Council shall submit such plan to the Planning Board for review and recommendation as to its conformity with the master plan for the development of the County as a whole. The Planning Board shall submit its written recommendation with respect to the proposed urban renewal plan to the Council within sixty (60) days after receipt of the plan for review. Upon receipt of the recommendations of the Planning Board or, if no recommendations are received within sixty (60) days, then without such recommendations, the Council may proceed with a public hearing on the proposed urban renewal project. The Council shall hold a public hearing on an urban renewal project after public notice thereof by publication in a newspaper having a general circulation within the corporate limits of the County. The notice shall describe the time, date, place, and purpose of the hearing, shall generally identify the urban renewal area covered by the plan, and shall outline the general scope of the urban renewal project under consideration. Following such hearing, the Council may approve an urban renewal project and the plan therefor if it finds that: A feasible method exists for the location of any families who will be displaced from the urban renewal area in decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling accommodations within their means and without undue hardship to such families; The urban renewal plan substantially conforms to the master plan of the County as a whole; and, The urban renewal plan will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the County as a whole, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the urban renewal area by private enterprise.

An urban renewal plan may be modified at any time, provided that if modified after the lease or sale of real property in the urban renewal project area, the modification may be conditioned upon such approval of the owner, lessee or successor in interest as the County may deem advisable and in any event shall be subject to such rights at law or in equity as a lessee or purchaser, or his successor or successors in interest, may be entitled to assert. Where the proposed modification will substantially change the urban renewal plan as previously approved by the County, the modification shall be formally approved by the County as in the case of an original plan. Upon the approval by the County of an urban renewal plan or of any modification thereof, such plan or modification shall be deemed to be in full force and effect for the respective urban renewal area. The County may then cause such plan or modification to be carried out in accordance with its terms. The County, prior to undertaking urban renewal projects within the territorial boundaries of incorporated areas, shall receive a resolution from the governing body of the incorporated area, stating approval of the urban renewal plan or plans.

The County may sell, lease, or otherwise transfer real property or any interest therein acquired for it by an urban renewal project, for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial, educational, or other uses or for public use, or may retain such property or interest for public use, in accordance with the urban renewal plan, subject to such covenants, conditions, and restrictions, including covenants running with the land, as it may deem to be necessary or desirable to assist in preventing the development or spread of future slums or blighted areas or to otherwise carry out the purposes of this Subdivision. The purchasers or lessees and their successors and assigns shall be obligated to devote such real property only to the uses specified in the urban renewal plan, and may be obligated to comply with such other requirements as the County may determine to be in the public interest, including the obligation to begin within a reasonable time any improvements on such real property required by the urban renewal plan. Such real property or interest shall be sold, leased, otherwise transferred, or retained at not less than its fair value for uses in accordance with the urban renewal plan. In determining the fair value of real property for uses in accordance with the urban renewal plan, the County shall take into account and give consideration to the uses provided in such plan; the restrictions upon, and the covenants, conditions, and obligations assumed by the purchaser or lessee or by the County retaining the property; and the objectives of such plan for the prevention of the recurrence of slum or blighted areas. The County in any instrument of conveyance to a private purchaser or lessee may provide that such purchaser or lessee shall be without power to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer the real property without the prior written consent of the County until he has completed the construction of any or all improvements which he has obligated himself to construct thereon. Real property acquired by the County which, in accordance with the provisions of the urban renewal plan, is to be transferred, shall be transferred as rapidly as feasible in the public interest consistent with the carrying out of the provisions of the urban renewal plan. Any contract for such transfer and the urban renewal plan (or such part or parts of such contract or plan as the municipality may determine) may be recorded in the land records of the County in such manner as to afford actual or constructive notice thereof.

The County may dispose of real property in an urban renewal area to private persons only under reasonable competitive bidding procedures as it shall prescribe. The County may, by public notice by publication in a newspaper having general circulation in the community (not less than sixty (60) days prior to the execution of any contract to sell, lease or otherwise transfer real property and prior to the delivery of any instrument of conveyance with respect thereto under the provisions of this Division) invite proposals from and make available all pertinent information to private redevelopers or any persons interested in undertaking to redevelop or rehabilitate an urban renewal area, or any part thereof. The notice shall identify the area, or portion thereof, and state that proposals shall be made by those interested within a specified period of not less than sixty (60) days after the first day of publication of the notice. Any further available information may be obtained at the office designated in the notice. The County shall consider all such redevelopment or rehabilitation proposals and the financial and legal ability of the persons making such proposal to carry them out, and may negotiate with any persons for proposals for the purchase, lease or other transfer of any real property acquired by the County in the urban renewal area. The County may accept such proposals as it deems to be in the public interest and in furtherance of the purposes of this Division. Thereafter, the County executes and delivers contracts, deeds, leases and other instruments and takes all steps necessary to effectuate such transfers.

The County may temporarily operate and maintain real property acquired by it in an urban renewal area for or in connection with an urban renewal project pending the disposition of the real property as authorized in this Division, without regard to the provisions of Section 2-261, for such uses and purposes as may be deemed desirable even though not in conformity with the urban renewal plan.

Any instrument executed by the County and purporting to convey any right, title, or interest in any property under this Division shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed in compliance with the provisions of this Division insofar as title or other interest of any bona fide purchaser, lessees, or transferees of such property is concerned.

In the event that urban renewal plans involve removal of residential housing, provisions and plans shall be made for their replacement with adequate facilities for the residents so displaced.

Condemnation of land or property under the provisions of this Division shall be in accordance with the procedure provided in Title 12, Real Property Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

The County to the greatest extent it determines to be feasible in carrying out the provisions of this Division, shall afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the County as a whole, to the rehabilitation or redevelopment of any urban renewal area by private enterprise. The County shall give consideration to this objective in exercising its powers under this Division.

For the purpose of financing and carrying out of an urban renewal project and related activities, the County may issue and sell its general obligation bonds. Any bonds issued by the County pursuant to this Division shall be issued in the manner and within the limitations prescribed by applicable law for the issuance and authorizations of general obligation bonds by such County and also within such limitations as shall be determined by the County.

In addition to the authority conferred by Section 2-268 the County shall issue revenue bonds to finance the undertaking of any urban renewal project and related activities. It shall issue refunding bonds for the payment or retirement of such bonds previously issued by it. Such bonds shall be made payable, as to both principal and interest, solely from the income, proceeds, revenues, and funds of the County derived from or held in connection with its undertaking and carrying out of urban renewal projects under this Division. Payment of such bonds, both as to principal and interest, may be further secured by a pledge of any loan, grant, or contribution from the Federal Government or other source, in aid of any urban renewal projects of the County under this Division, and by a mortgage of any such urban renewal projects, or any part thereof, title to which is in the County. In addition, the County may enter into an indenture of trust with any private banking institution of this State having trust powers and may make in such indenture of trust such covenants and commitments as may be required by any purchaser for the adequate security of the bonds.

Bonds issued under this Division shall not constitute an indebtedness within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation or restriction, shall not be subject to the provisions of any other law or charter relating to the authorization, issuance or sale of bonds, and are hereby specifically exempted from the restrictions contained in Sections 9, 10, and 11 of Article 31 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition, as amended). Bonds issued under the provisions of this Division are declared to be issued for an essential public and governmental purpose and, together with interest thereon and income therefrom, shall be exempted from all taxes.

Bonds issued under this Division shall be authorized by ordinance of the Council and may be issued in one (1) or more series. The bonds shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, not exceeding six percent (6%) per annum, be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form either with or without coupon or registered, carry such conversion or registration privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium or payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption (with or without premium), be secured in such manner, and have such other characteristics, as may be provided by such resolution or trust indenture or mortgage issued pursuant thereto.

Bonds issued under this Division may be sold at not less than par at public sales held after notice published prior to such sale in a newspaper having a general circulation in the County and in such other medium of publication as the County may determine or may be exchanged for other bonds on the basis of par. Such bonds may be sold to the Federal Government at private sale at not less than par, and, in the event less than all of the authorized principal amount of such bonds is sold to the Federal Government, the balance may be sold at private sale at not less than par at an interest cost to the County of not to exceed the interest cost to the County of the portion of the bonds sold to the Federal Government.

In case any of the public officials of the County whose signatures appear on any bonds or coupons issued under this Division cease to be such officials before delivery of such bond or, in the event any such officials cease to be public officials after the date of issue of the bonds, the bonds shall nevertheless be valid and binding obligations of the County in accordance with their terms. Any provisions of any law to the contrary notwithstanding, any bonds issued pursuant to this Division shall be fully negotiable.

In any suit, action, or proceeding involving the validity or enforceability of any bond issued under this Division or the security therefor, any such bond reciting in substance that it has been issued by the County in connection with an urban renewal project, as herein defined, shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued for such purpose. Such project shall be conclusively deemed to have been planned, located, and carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Division.

All banks, trust companies, bankers, savings banks and institutions, building and loan associations, savings and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking or investment business; all insurance companies, insurance associations, and other persons carrying on an insurance business; and all executors, administrators, curators, trustees, and other fiduciaries, may legally invest any sinking funds, monies, or other funds belonging to them or within their control in any bonds or other obligations issued by the County pursuant to this Division provided that such bonds and other obligations are secured by an agreement between the issuer and the Federal Government in which the issuer agrees to borrow from the Federal Government and the Federal Government agrees to lend to the issuer, prior to the maturity of such bonds or other obligations, monies in an amount which (together with any other monies irrevocably committed to the payment of principal and interest on such bonds or other obligations) will suffice to pay the principal of such bonds or other obligations with interest to maturity thereon. Such monies under the terms of the agreement are required to be used for the purpose of paying the principal of and the interest on such bonds or other obligations at their maturity. Such bonds and other obligations shall be authorized security for all public deposits. It is the purpose of this Section to authorize any persons, political subdivisions and officers, public or private, to use any funds owned or controlled by them for the purchase of any bonds or other obligations. Nothing contained in this Section with regard to legal investments shall be construed as relieving any person of any duty of exercising reasonable care in selecting securities.

All plans, whether preliminary or final, prepared or presented under the provisions of this Division by the County shall not conflict with, and shall conform to the master plan for the County. This Section shall be construed to mean that all urban renewal plans affecting a change in zoning shall be reviewed by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Any zoning amendments pursuant to this urban renewal program shall be approved by the District Council.