Housing Authorities Law; various changes to update provisions. (HB699)

Introduced By

Del. Terrie Suit (R-Virginia Beach) with support from co-patrons Del. Allen Dudley (R-Rocky Mount), Del. Paula Miller (D-Norfolk), Sen. Kenneth Alexander (D-Norfolk), and Sen. Jay O'Brien (R-Clifton)

Description

Housing Authorities Law. Makes various changes to the Housing Authorities Law to update its provisions. The bill adds several definitions including "blighted area," "blighted property," "conservation area," "redevelopment area," and "spot blight abatement plan." The bill also reconfirms that the elimination of blight in a redevelopment area, the prevention of blight in a conservation area, and the designation of individual properties as blighted pursuant to a spot blight abatement plan are public uses and purposes. In addition, the bill (i) updates referendum provisions; (ii) clarifies that written notice sent by certified mail to all record owners at their last known address as indicated in the records of the treasurer, current real estate tax records, or the records of any other officer responsible for collecting taxes prior to the use of eminent domain and spot blight abatement proceedings is required; (iii) clarifies that an owner in a proposed redevelopment or conservation area has the right to present testimony before the local governing body objecting to the designation of an area as a redevelopment or conservation area, and to acquisition of their property by negotiated purchase or the use of eminent domain; and (iv) clarifies that farm structures are generally exempt from the Housing Authorities Law and that the right to establish redevelopment or conservation areas and use the process of spot blight abatement shall not abrogate the right to farm as protected in 3.1-22.28. The bill includes various technical amendments. Read the Bill »

Status

04/06/2006: signed by governor

History