Agenda - Council - 10/22/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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POWERS OFEDAS General Powers and Purposes The primary benefit of an EDA rests in its ability to easily and flexibly accomplish a wide range of development and redevelopment objectives. An EDA is granted a remarkably full complement of development powers. These include (subject to any limitation in the enabling resolution) the powers enumerated by its enabling legislation, but also those powers granted by cross-reference to housing and redevelopment authorities (HRAs), to Cities in connection with projects and development districts, of municipalities and redevelopment agencies in connection with Municipal Industrial Development. These development powers allow an EDA great latitude, flexibility and efficiency in pursuing economic development objectives. The purposes to which EDAs may direct their powers are not entirely clear in the statutes. They appear to include making land suitable and available for economic development and to encourage the location or expansion of economic development facilities. Also, through incorporating the purposes of HRAs, EDAs also can provide adequate housing in addition to clearing and developing blighted areas. And by incorporating the broad purposes of Municipal Industrial Development, EDAs may actively promote, attract and encourage the development of economically sound industry and commerce for the purpose of preventing the emergence of blighted and marginal lands and areas of chronic unemployment. Usually, an EDA must adopt or reference a broader plan to exercise its powers. Certain EDA powers can only be exercised within the boundaries of an "Economic Development District; certain IIRA powers must be exercised within the boundaries of a "Redevelopment Project," and certain municipal powers must be exercised within a "Municipal Development District." Certain EDA Powers must be exercised only within the boundaries of an "Economic Development District." The EDA may create and define the boundaries of economic development districts at any place or places within the City, except the district boundaries must be contiguous. An EDA must hold a public hearing on the establishment and at least 10 days before the hearing the EDA shall publish notice of the hearing in a daily newspaper of general circulation in the City. The EDA must find that an economic development district is proper and desirable to establish and develop within the City. Redevelopment Project When the EDA exercises many of the powers of an HRA, such powers must be used within the boundaries of a Redevelopment Project established under the HRA law. When establishing a Redevelopment Project, the EDA must develop a redevelopment plan which provides an outline for the development or redevelopment of the area. The EDA must obtain the written opinion of the City's planning agency if there is one. The City Council must approve or disapprove the plan within 30 days after holding a public hearing on the Redevelopment Project. The council must make the following findings in connection with its approval: 16