It is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions of this act be used in accordance with the following guidelines:

1. That the tools of this act be used in those cases where investment, development and economic growth is difficult, but is possible if the provisions of this act are available;

2. That the tools of this act not be used in areas where investment, development and economic growth would have occurred anyway and that the governing body take care to exclude areas that do not meet this criteria;

3. That the tools of this act be used to supplement and not supplant or replace normal public functions and services;

4. That the tools of this act work in conjunction with existing programs and efforts such as the Oklahoma Main Street Program, Oklahoma Enterprise Zone Act, historic preservation and other locally implemented economic development efforts;

5. That any proposed districts be delineated with particular emphasis not to have boundaries that dissect a similar area or create unfair competitive advantage;

6. That the governing body recognizes the need for residential and neighborhood treatment, capital improvements to neighborhood public schools, as well as commercial/industrial development;

7. That where possible partial credits or credits that do not utilize the full time frame allowed be pursued;

8. That maximum effort be made to allow full public knowledge and participation in the local use of this act;

9. That conservation, preservation and rehabilitation be emphasized while demolition, clearance and relocation be minimized where possible; and

10. That the governing bodies develop and apply clear standards, criteria and threshold limits that are applicable to all similar property and areas and that the governing bodies enact protection against nearby relocations to utilize incentives.

Added by Laws 1992, c. 342, § 3. Amended by Laws 1998, c. 63, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1998.