RDA Min 1998-06-08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . I '" Avenue street improvements; Sequoia Gate at Sequoia High School and painting and landscaping; and downtown Broadway entry features. - Director Church said expansion would allow the Agency to be used as a tool for improvements along the 101 Corridor and EI Camino Real. He said the bulk of the projects have been small projects designed to enhance the environment. Director Church said expansion might also allow relocation of some auto businesses that might be forced to move because of existing inadequate sites on EI Camino Real. Director Church introduced Mark Milakovich, consultant from Katz Hollis, to explain the legal definition of blight. Mr. Milakovich said part of his role was to "document the economic and physical blighting conditions within the proposed 4th Amendment area." He said that the California Community Redevelopment Law derIDes two types of blight, economic and physical, "and at a minimum one type of physical blighting condition and one type of economic blighting condition must be present within an area to establish a Redevelopment Project." Mr. Milakovich said the physical conditions that cause blight include, 1) buildings in which it is unsafe or unhealthy for persons to live or work; 2) Factors that prevent or substantially hinder the economically viable use or capacity of buildings or lots; 3) Adjacent or nearby uses that are incompatible with each other and which prevent the - economic development of those parcels or other portions of the project area; 4) the existence of subdivided lots of irregular form and shape and inadequate size for proper usefulness and development that are under multiple ownerships. Mr. Milakovich said economic blight includes: 1) Depreciated or stagnant property values or impaired investments, including but not limited to properties containing hazardous wastes; 2) Abnormally high business vacancies, abnormally low lease rates, high turnover rates, abandoned buildings or excessive vacant lots within an area developed for urban use and served by utilities; 3) the lack of necessary commercial facilities; 4) Residential overcrowding or an excessive of bars, liquor stores or other businesses that cater exclusively to adults that has led to problems of public safety and welfare; and 5) a high crime rate that constitutes a serious threat to the public safety and welfare. Mr. Milakovich said the consultants job was to look at an area with respect to those definitions and document observations. He said the law requires only one physical and one economic condition be prevalent to qualify for inclusion in a Redevelopment Project; or that "the sum of the physical and economic blighting conditions within the area must be prevalent." He said in the proposed 4th amendment, "the latter is true. Although there is not one overriding blighting condition which is pervasive throughout - AGENDA FOR THE JOINT PUBLIC HEARING MINUTE BOOK NO.1 JUNE 8,1998 AND CONCURRENT MEETING WITH THE Page No. 480 PAGE 5 CITY COUNCIL