§ 2-259. Urban Renewal Plan; preparation; hearing; approval.

(a)

The Council, in order to carry out the purposes of this Division, shall prepare or cause to be prepared an urban renewal plan for slum or blighted areas in the County, and shall formally approve such plan. Prior to its approval of an urban renewal project, the Council shall submit such plan to the Planning Board for review and recommendation as to its conformity with the master plan for the development of the County as a whole.

(b)

The Planning Board shall submit its written recommendation with respect to the proposed urban renewal plan to the Council within sixty (60) days after receipt of the plan for review. Upon receipt of the recommendations of the Planning Board or, if no recommendations are received within sixty (60) days, then without such recommendations, the Council may proceed with a public hearing on the proposed urban renewal project.

(c)

The Council shall hold a public hearing on an urban renewal project after public notice thereof by publication in a newspaper having a general circulation within the corporate limits of the County. The notice shall describe the time, date, place, and purpose of the hearing, shall generally identify the urban renewal area covered by the plan, and shall outline the general scope of the urban renewal project under consideration.

(d)

Following such hearing, the Council may approve an urban renewal project and the plan therefor if it finds that:

(1)

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

(2)

The urban renewal plan substantially conforms to the master plan of the County as a whole; and,

(3)

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

(Laws 1963, ch. 778, Sec. 5; Laws 1968, ch. 720, Sec. 1)