                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF NECESSITY (§ 36-2)

A. It is hereby found and declared that:

   1. Blighted areas exist in the Commonwealth, and these areas endanger the
   health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the Commonwealth;

   2. The elimination of blight and redevelopment of blighted areas through the
   designation of redevelopment areas and the adoption and implementation of
   redevelopment plans for such areas; the prevention of further deterioration
   and blight through the designation of conservation areas and the adoption and
   implementation of conservation plans for such areas; and the designation of
   individual properties as blighted under the &#8220;spot blight&#8221;
   provisions of this chapter are public uses and purposes for which public money
   may be spent and private property acquired by purchase or through the exercise
   of the power of eminent domain as authorized by this chapter, and are
   governmental functions of grave concern to the Commonwealth;

   3. As a part of a redevelopment or conservation plan, it is a public purpose
   to provide public facilities including, but not limited to, roads, water,
   sewers, parks, and real estate devoted to open-space use as that term is
   defined in &#xA7; 58.1-3230 within redevelopment and conservation areas; and

   4. It is a public purpose to promote the availability of affordable housing
   for all citizens of the Commonwealth and in particular to provide safe,
   decent, and sanitary housing for those citizens with low or moderate incomes.
   To that end, (i) the clearance, replanning, and reconstruction of the areas in
   which unsanitary or unsafe housing conditions exist and the providing of safe
   and sanitary dwelling accommodations for persons of low or moderate income and
   (ii) the sale or lease of land and the acquisition, construction,
   rehabilitation, and operation of residential housing units for persons of low
   and moderate incomes are necessary for the public welfare and are public uses
   and public purposes for which public money may be spent and private property
   acquired by purchase or through the exercise of the power of eminent domain as
   authorized in this chapter and are governmental functions of grave concern to
   the Commonwealth.

B. The necessity and the public purpose for the provisions hereinafter enacted
are hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.

HISTORY: 1938, p. 447; Michie Code 1942, § 3145(2); 2006, c. 784.