1.It is hereby found and declared that there exist in municipalities of the state slum and
blighted areas, as defined in this chapter, which constitute a serious and growing menace,
injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the residents of the state; that the
existence of such areas contributes substantially and increasingly to the spread of disease
and crime, constitutes an economic and social liability imposing onerous municipal burdens
which decrease the tax base and reduce tax revenues, substantially impairs or arrests
the sound growth of municipalities, retards the provision of housing accommodations,
aggravates traffic problems and substantially impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic
hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevent
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1. It is hereby found and declared that there exist in municipalities of the state slum and
blighted areas, as defined in this chapter, which constitute a serious and growing menace,
injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the residents of the state; that the
existence of such areas contributes substantially and increasingly to the spread of disease
and crime, constitutes an economic and social liability imposing onerous municipal burdens
which decrease the tax base and reduce tax revenues, substantially impairs or arrests
the sound growth of municipalities, retards the provision of housing accommodations,
aggravates traffic problems and substantially impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic
hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of
slums and blighted areas is a matter of state policy and state 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 state
revenues because of the extra services required for police, fire, accident, hospitalization,
and other forms of public protection, services, and facilities.
2. It is further found and declared that certain slum or blighted areas, or portions thereof,
may require acquisition, clearance, and disposition subject to use restrictions, as provided in
this chapter, since the prevailing condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation
oftheareabyconservationorrehabilitation; thatotherareasorportionsthereofmay,through
the means provided in this chapter, be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such a
manner that the conditions and evils hereinbefore enumerated may be eliminated, remedied
or prevented; and that fringe areas can be conserved and rehabilitated through appropriate
public action as herein authorized, and through the cooperation and voluntary action of the
owners and tenants of property in such areas.
3. It is further found and declared that there exists in this state the continuing need for
programs to alleviate and prevent conditions of unemployment and a shortage of housing;
and that it is accordingly necessary to assist and retain local industries and commercial
enterprises to strengthen and revitalize the economy of this state and its municipalities;
that accordingly it is necessary to provide means and methods for the encouragement and
assistance of industrial and commercial enterprises in locating, purchasing, constructing,
reconstructing, modernizing, improving, maintaining, repairing, furnishing, equipping, and
expanding in this state and its municipalities, for the provision of public improvements
related to housing and residential development, and for the construction of housing for
low and moderate income families; that accordingly it is necessary to authorize local
governing bodies to designate areas of a municipality as economic development areas
for commercial and industrial enterprises, public improvements related to housing and
residential development, or construction of housing for low and moderate income families;
and that it is also necessary to encourage the location and expansion of commercial
enterprises to more conveniently provide needed services and facilities of the commercial
enterprises to municipalities and the residents of the municipalities. Therefore, the powers
granted in this chapter constitute the performance of essential public purposes for this state
and its municipalities.
4. It is further found and declared that the powers conferred by this chapter are for public
uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and for which the power of
eminent domain, to the extent authorized, and police power exercised; and that the necessity
in the public interest for the provisions herein enacted is hereby declared as a matter of
legislative determination.