Subdivision 1. Urban Renewal Plan

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:

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.

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:

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 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).

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.

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.