§ 500.105. Community redevelopment plans.

(a)

New community redevelopment shall not be planned or initiated under this Part unless and until the Council has, by resolution, found and determined that a specified area is appropriate for community redevelopment, has designated such area as a community redevelopment area and has adopted a community redevelopment plan for such area.

(b)

The community redevelopment plan shall:

(1)

Conform to the comprehensive plan for the City as prepared by the Department of Planning and Development under the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act.

(2)

Be sufficiently complete to indicate such land acquisition, demolition and removal of structures, redevelopment, rehabilitation and improvements, including residential development and related office, commercial and light industrial development, as may be proposed to be carried out in the community redevelopment area; zoning and planning changes, if any; land uses; maximum densities; and building requirements.

(3)

Provide for residential development in the area, or state the reasons for not addressing residential development in the area. The City and the JEDC shall coordinate with the housing authority and the Duval County Housing Finance Authority, concerning residential development in the area.

(c)

The community redevelopment plan may also provide for the development and implementation of community policing innovations.

(d)

The Council shall hold a public hearing on a community redevelopment plan after public notice thereof by publication in a newspaper having a general circulation in the City. The notice shall describe the time, date, place, and purpose of the hearing, identify generally the community redevelopment area covered by the plan, and outline the general scope of the community redevelopment plan under consideration.

(e)

Following such hearing, the Council may approve the community redevelopment area and the community redevelopment plan therefor if it finds that:

(1)

A feasible method exists for the location of families who will be displaced from the community redevelopment area in decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling accommodations within their means and without undue hardship to such families;

(2)

The community redevelopment plan conforms to the general plan of the City as a whole, and, if appropriate, the Jacksonville Downtown Master Plan;

(3)

The community redevelopment plan gives due consideration to the utilization of community policing innovations, and to the provision of adequate residential development and related commercial, office and light industrial development and utilities, roads, parks, playgrounds, parking facilities and other improvements that may be desirable for neighborhood improvement, with special consideration for the health, safety, and welfare of elderly persons and children residing in the area covered by the plans; and

(4)

The community redevelopment plan will afford maximum opportunity, consistent with the sound needs of the City as a whole, for the rehabilitation or redevelopment of the community redevelopment area by private enterprise.

(f)

If the community redevelopment area consists of an area of open land to be acquired by the City, such area may not be so acquired unless:

(1)

In the event the area is to be developed in whole or in part for residential uses, the Council determines:

(i)

That a shortage of housing of sound standards and design which is decent, safe, affordable and sanitary exists in the City;

(ii)

That there is a need for residential development in the area;

(iii)

That the conditions of blight in the area or the shortage of decent, safe, affordable, and sanitary housing cause or contribute to an increase in and spread of disease and crime or constitute a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare; or

(iv)

That the acquisition of the area for residential development and related office, commercial and light industrial development is an integral part of and is essential to community redevelopment in the City.

(2)

In the event the area is to be developed in whole or in part for nonresidential uses, the governing body determines that:

(i)

Such nonresidential uses are necessary and appropriate to facilitate the proper growth and development of the community in accordance with sound planning standards and local community objectives.

(ii)

Acquisition may require the exercise of governmental action, as provided in this Part, because of:

a.

Defective, or unusual conditions of, title or diversity of ownership which prevents the free alienability of such land;

b.

Tax delinquency;

c.

Improper subdivisions;

d.

Outmoded street patterns;

e.

Deterioration of site and the improvements thereon;

f.

Economic disuse;

g.

Unsuitable topography or faulty lot layouts;

h.

Lack of correlation of the area with other areas of the City by streets and modern traffic requirements; or

i.

Any combination of such factors or other conditions which retard development of the area.

(iii)

Conditions of blight in the area contribute to an increase in and spread of disease and crime or constitute a menace to public health, safety, morals, or welfare.

(g)

Upon the approval by the Council of a community redevelopment plan or of any modification thereof, such plan or modification shall be deemed to be in full force and effect for the respective community redevelopment area, and the City may then carry out such plan or modification in accordance with its terms.

(Ord. 2000-1078-E, § 1.03)