403.2 Declaration of policy.

1. It is hereby found and declared that there exist in municipalities of the state slum and blighted areas, as herein defined, which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious to the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the state; that the existence of such areas contributes substantially and increasingly to the spread of disease and crime, constitutes an economic and social liability imposing onerous municipal burdens which decrease the tax base and reduce tax revenues, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of municipalities, retards the provision of housing accommodations, aggravates traffic problems and substantially impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of slums and blighted areas is a matter of state policy and state concern in order that the state and its municipalities shall not continue to be endangered by areas which are focal centers of disease, promote juvenile delinquency and consume an excessive proportion of state revenues because of the extra services required for police, fire, accident, hospitalization and other forms of public protection, services and facilities.

2. It is further found and declared that certain slum or blighted areas, or portions thereof, may require acquisition, clearance, and disposition subject to use restrictions, as provided in this chapter, since the prevailing condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by conservation or rehabilitation; that other areas or portions thereof may, through the means provided in this chapter, be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such a manner that the conditions and evils hereinbefore enumerated may be eliminated, remedied or prevented; and that fringe areas can be conserved and rehabilitated through appropriate public action as herein authorized, and through the cooperation and voluntary action of the owners and tenants of property in such areas.

3. It is further found and declared that there exists in this state the continuing need for programs to alleviate and prevent conditions of unemployment and a shortage of housing; and that it is accordingly necessary to assist and retain local industries and commercial enterprises to strengthen and revitalize the economy of this state and its municipalities; that accordingly it is necessary to provide means and methods for the encouragement and assistance of industrial and commercial enterprises in locating, purchasing, constructing, reconstructing, modernizing, improving, maintaining, repairing, furnishing, equipping, and expanding in this state and its municipalities, for the provision of public improvements related to housing and residential development, and for the construction of housing for low and moderate income families; that accordingly it is necessary to authorize local governing bodies to designate areas of a municipality as economic development areas for commercial and industrial enterprises, public improvements related to housing and residential development, or construction of housing for low and moderate income families; and that it is also necessary to encourage the location and expansion of commercial enterprises to more conveniently provide needed services and facilities of the commercial enterprises to municipalities and the residents of the municipalities. Therefore, the powers granted in this chapter constitute the performance of essential public purposes for this state and its municipalities.

4. It is further found and declared that the powers conferred by this chapter are for public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and for which the power of eminent domain, to the extent authorized, and police power exercised; and that the necessity in the public interest for the provisions herein enacted is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.

[C58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §403.2]

85 Acts, ch 66, §1; 91 Acts, ch 186, §1; 96 Acts, ch 1204, §13;

2006 Acts, 1st Ex, ch 1001, §34, 49