(1) The general assembly finds and declares that there exist in municipalities of this state slum and blighted areas which constitute a serious and growing menace, injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the residents of the state in general and of the municipalities thereof; that the existence of such areas contributes substantially to the spread of disease and crime, constitutes an economic and social liability, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of municipalities, retards the provision of housing accommodations, aggravates traffic problems and impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of slums and blight is a matter of public policy and statewide 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 its revenues because of the extra services required for police, fire, accident, hospitalization, and other forms of public protection, services, and facilities.
The general assembly further finds and declares that certain slum or blighted areas,or portions thereof, may require acquisition, clearance, and disposition subject to use restrictions, as provided in this part 1, since the prevailing conditions therein may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by conservation or rehabilitation; that other slum or blighted areas, or portions thereof, through the means provided in this part 1, may be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such a manner that the conditions and evils enumerated in this section may be eliminated, remedied, or prevented; and that salvable slum and blighted areas can be conserved and rehabilitated through appropriate public action, as authorized or contemplated in this part 1, and the cooperation and voluntary action of the owners and tenants of property in such areas.
The general assembly further finds and declares that the powers conferred by thispart 1 are for public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and the police power exercised and that the necessity in the public interest for the provisions enacted in this part 1 is declared as a matter of legislative determination.
The general assembly further finds and declares that:
Urban renewal areas created for the purposes described in subsections (1) and (2) ofthis section shall not include agricultural land except in connection with the limited circumstances described in this part 1; and
The inclusion of agricultural land within urban renewal areas is a matter of statewideconcern.
Source: L. 75: Entire title R&RE, p. 1158, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2010: (4) added, (HB 10-1107), ch. 89, p. 298, § 1, effective June 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 31-25-102 as it existed prior to 1975.