                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LOCAL HOUSING FUND AND VOLUNTARY COORDINATED HOUSING PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS (§ 15.2-735)

The board may establish by resolution a housing fund, the purpose of which will
be to assist for-profit or nonprofit housing developers or organizations to
develop or preserve affordable housing for low and moderate income persons. The
fund may be used to assist the developer or organization with such items as
acquisition of land and buildings, lighting, sanitary and storm sewers,
landscaping, walkways, construction of parking facilities, water-sewer hookup
fees, and site improvements, including sidewalks, curbs, and gutters but not
street improvements. Developers assisted in this manner shall provide a minimum
of twenty percent of the units for low and moderate income persons as defined by
the county for a minimum of ten years.
		The board may declare by resolution that a portion of the county is eligible
for use of the housing fund by designation of a voluntary coordinated housing
preservation and development district. Such resolution shall contain a statement
that (i) there exists within the county a serious shortage of sanitary and safe
residential housing at rentals and prices which persons and families of low and
moderate income can afford, and that this shortage has contributed and will
contribute to the creation of substandard living conditions and is inimical to
the health, welfare and prosperity of the residents of the county; (ii) it is
imperative that the supply of rental and other housing for such persons and
families be preserved or developed; and (iii) private enterprise is unable,
without assistance, to produce the needed development or rehabilitation of
sanitary and safe housing which persons or families of low and moderate income
can afford.
		The resolution shall include a statement that the owner of such rental
property, or persons showing evidence of site control by a legally binding
agreement, have requested the county to designate the site a voluntary
coordinated housing preservation and development district.
		The resolution shall also provide a plan for the district which outlines
actions to be taken by the owner and by the county to assure that physical
improvements to the structures, site and infrastructure are designed to improve
the neighborhood, enhance the useful life of the buildings and promote energy
conservation. Such plan shall further specify the actions to be taken by the
owner and by the county (i) to minimize the displacement of persons or families
of low and moderate income residing in the property; (ii) to reserve some units
at rents and prices affordable to persons or families of low and moderate
income; and (iii) otherwise to serve public purposes.
		Upon declaration of an approved district, the county may:

1. Provide for the installation, construction, or reconstruction of streets,
utilities, parks, parking facilities, playgrounds, and other site improvements
essential to the development, preservation or rehabilitation planned;

2. Provide encouragement or financial assistance to the owners or occupants for
acquisition of land and buildings, developing or preserving and upgrading
residential buildings and for improving health and safety, conserving energy,
preventing erosion, enhancing the neighborhood, and reducing the displacement of
low and moderate income residents of the property;

3. Require that the owner agree to maintain a portion of the property in
residential rental or other residential use for a period of not less than ten
years and that a portion of the dwelling units in the property be offered at
rents and prices affordable to persons or families of low and moderate income;
and

4. Provide that the value of assistance given by the county under subdivisions 1
and 2 above be proportionate to the value of considerations rendered by the
owner in maintaining a portion of the dwelling units at reduced rents and prices
for persons or families of low and moderate income.

HISTORY: 1987, c. 29, § 15.1-687.13; 1992, c. 335; 1997, c. 587.