It is the intent of the Legislature that the area of the districts created be substantially undeveloped, and the establishment of a district should not ordinarily lead to the removal of existing dwelling units. If, however, any dwelling units are proposed to be removed or destroyed in the course of private development or public works construction within the area of the district, the legislative body shall do all of the following:
(a) Within four years of the removal or destruction, cause or require the construction or rehabilitation, for rental or sale to persons or families of low or moderate income, of an equal number of replacement dwelling units at affordable housing cost, as defined in Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, within the territory of the district if the dwelling units removed were inhabited by persons or families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) Within four years of the removal or destruction, cause or require the construction or rehabilitation, for rental or sale to persons of low or moderate income, a number of dwelling units that is at least one unit but not less than 20 percent of the total dwelling units removed at affordable housing cost, as defined in Section 50052.5 of the Health and Safety Code, within the territory of the district if the dwelling units removed or destroyed were not inhabited by persons of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.
(c) Provide relocation assistance and make all the payments required by Chapter 16 (commencing with Section 7260) of Division 7 of Title 1, to persons displaced by any public or private development occurring within the territory of the district. This displacement shall be deemed to be the result of public action.
(d) Ensure that removal or destruction of any dwelling units occupied by persons or families of low or moderate income does not take place unless and until there are suitable housing units, at comparable cost to the units from which the persons or families were displaced, available and ready for occupancy by the residents of the units at the time of their displacement. The housing units shall be suitable to the needs of these displaced persons or families and shall be decent, safe, sanitary, and otherwise standard dwellings.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 773, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)