Sec. 7-485. Required municipal findings and determinations. Discretionary referendum.

(a) No power granted to a municipality under this chapter may be exercised unless and until the municipality shall have found and determined by resolution that conditions substantially as described in section 7-481 exist in the municipality, are continuing and may be ameliorated by the exercise of the powers granted under this chapter. Such resolution shall include the following findings and determinations and the following standards for the implementation of the powers granted under this chapter: (1) An unreasonable number of residents of the municipality are subject to hardship in finding employment and adequate, safe and sanitary housing; (2) conditions of blight and deterioration exist in parts of the municipality or the municipality would substantially benefit from the renovation, rehabilitation or construction of commercial or residential properties; (3) private enterprise is not meeting such need for employment, housing, the reduction of blight and deterioration, or the renovation, rehabilitation or construction of commercial or residential properties; (4) the need for employment and adequate, safe and sanitary housing will be lessened and the municipality will be revitalized by the exercise of the powers granted under this chapter; (5) adequate provisions shall be made for the payment of the cost of acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance and insurance of all development property; (6) a feasible method exists and shall be utilized for the relocation into safe and sanitary dwellings of comparable rent of families and individuals displaced as a consequence of the exercise of any power granted under this chapter and such families and individuals shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of actions authorized by this chapter for the public benefit; (7) development property shall not be acquired or disposed of without due consideration of the environmental and economic impact of such acquisition or disposition and the adequacy of existing or proposed municipal services; (8) the acquisition or disposition of all development property shall advance the public interest, general health, safety and welfare, and development, growth and prosperity of the municipality.

(b) Each resolution adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may be submitted to the electors of the municipality for their approval. If the legislative body of a municipality votes to submit a resolution to the electors of the municipality, not later than fourteen days after the adoption of such resolution a copy of such resolution shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation within the municipality in which such resolution was adopted together with a notice of the time that a referendum shall be held on the question of approval of such resolution. The question of approval of such resolution shall be submitted to the electors of such municipality at a special election called for such purpose to be held not less than thirty days, nor more than sixty days, after adoption of such resolution, in conformity with the provisions of section 9-369 or, if a regular municipal election is to be held more than sixty days, but not more than one hundred twenty days, after the adoption of such resolution, such question shall be so submitted at such regular election and a vote thereon shall be taken in the manner prescribed by said section 9-369. If a majority of those voting in any such referendum vote to approve such resolution, such resolution shall thereupon become effective. If less than a majority of those voting in any such referendum vote to approve such resolution, it shall become null and void.

(c) Any resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall specify the period for which such resolution shall be effective, provided no such resolution shall be effective for a period in excess of five years from the effective date of such resolution. Upon the expiration of the effective period of any resolution adopted pursuant to this section: (1) Any indebtedness contracted, encumbrances made or commitments entered into by a municipality by resolution or contracts executed pursuant to resolution, including all proceedings related thereto, shall be valid and binding in accordance with their terms respectively and shall be of full force and effect if incurred, adopted or executed respectively during the period in which such resolution referred to in this section is effective and the municipality shall have all powers herein conferred with respect thereto notwithstanding the expiration of such period; and (2) the municipality which adopted such resolution shall not be authorized to exercise any powers created by this chapter, provided any such municipality shall be authorized to continue to exercise all powers created by this chapter in regard to any development property in regard to which any contract or lease has been previously entered into by such municipality with a sponsor or in regard to which any bonds or notes have been issued by such municipality.

(July Sp. Sess. P.A. 75-2, S. 6, 25; P.A. 16-133, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 16-133 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “parts of” and provision re municipality would substantially benefit from renovation, rehabilitation or construction of commercial or residential properties in Subdiv. (2), and adding reference to renovation, rehabilitation or construction of commercial or residential properties in Subdiv. (3), amended Subsec. (b) by substituting “may” for “shall” in provision re submittal to electors, and made technical changes.