Effective 07 Jul 2003, see footnote

99.951. Adoption of authorizing ordinance, public hearings to be held — notice for hearing, contents. — 1. Prior to the adoption of the ordinance designating a development area, adopting a development plan, or approving a development project, the municipality or authority shall fix a time and place for a public hearing and notify each taxing district located wholly or partially within the boundaries of the proposed development area or development project area affected. Such notice shall comply with the provisions of subsection 2 of this section. At the public hearing any interested person or affected taxing district may file with the municipality or authority written objections to, or comments on, and may be heard orally in respect to, any issues regarding the plan or issues embodied in the notice. The municipality or authority shall hear and consider all protests, objections, comments, and other evidence presented at the hearing. The hearing may be continued to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes fixing the time and place of the subsequent hearing. Prior to the conclusion of the hearing, changes may be made in the development plan, development project, development area or development project area, provided that written notice of such changes is available at the public hearing. After the public hearing but prior to the adoption of an ordinance designating a development area, adopting a development plan or approving a development project, changes may be made to any such proposed development plan, development project, development area, or development project area without a further hearing, if such changes do not enlarge the exterior boundaries of the development area, and do not substantially affect the general land uses established in a development plan or development project, provided that notice of such changes shall be given by mail to each affected taxing district and by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the development area or development project area, as applicable, not less than ten days prior to the adoption of the changes by ordinance. After the adoption of an ordinance designating the development area, adopting a development plan, approving a development project, or designating a development project area, no ordinance shall be adopted altering the exterior boundaries of the development area or a development project area affecting the general land uses established pursuant to the development plan or the general nature of a development project without holding a public hearing in accordance with this section. One public hearing may be held for the simultaneous consideration of a development area, development plan, development project, or development project area.

2. Notice of the public hearing required by this section shall be given by publication and mailing. Notice by publication shall be given by publication at least twice, the first publication to be not more than thirty days and the second publication to be not more than ten days prior to the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation in the proposed development area or development project area, as applicable, and in two minority newspapers, if such newspapers are published in the municipality, of which one shall be published in the Spanish language, if such a newspaper is published in the municipality. Notice by mailing shall be given by depositing such notice in the United States mail by certified mail addressed to the person or persons in whose name the general taxes for the last preceding year were paid on each lot, block, tract, or parcel of land lying within the proposed development area or development project area, as applicable, which is to be subjected to the payment or payments in lieu of taxes and economic activity taxes pursuant to section 99.957. Such notice shall be mailed not less than ten working days prior to the date set for the public hearing. In the event taxes for the last preceding year were not paid, the notice shall also be sent to the persons last listed on the tax rolls within the preceding three years as the owners of such property.

3. The notices issued pursuant to this section shall include the following:

(1) The time and place of the public hearing;

(2) The general boundaries of the proposed development area or development project area, as applicable, by street location, where possible;

(3) A statement that all interested persons shall be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing;

(4) A description of the development plan and the proposed development projects and a location and time where the entire development plan or development projects proposed may be reviewed by any interested party;

(5) An estimate of other net new revenues;

(6) A statement that development financing involving tax revenues and payments in lieu of taxes is being sought for the project and an estimate of the amount of local development financing that will be requested, if applicable; and

(7) Such other matters as the municipality or authority may deem appropriate.

4. Not less than forty-five days prior to the date set for the public hearing, the municipality or authority shall give notice by mail as provided in subsection 2 of this section to all taxing districts with jurisdiction over taxable property in the development area or development project area, as applicable, and in addition to the other requirements pursuant to subsection 3 of this section, the notice shall include an invitation to each taxing district to submit comments to the municipality or authority concerning the subject matter of the hearing prior to the date of the hearing.

5. A copy of any and all hearing notices required by this section shall be submitted by the municipality or authority to the director of the department of economic development and the date such notices were mailed or published, as applicable.

­­--------

(L. 2003 H.B. 289)

Effective 7-07-03