                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ADOPTION OF CONSERVATION PLANS (§ 36-49.1)

A. An authority may adopt a conservation plan for a designated conservation area
to address blight and blighting conditions, to conserve such area, prevent
further deterioration and prevent such area from becoming blighted, and in
particular is specifically empowered to carry out any work or undertaking in the
conservation area, including any or all of the following:

   1. Acquire property within such areas which is blighted, designated for public
   use in the conservation plan, or the use or condition of which is inconsistent
   with the purposes of the conservation plan or the provisions of the zoning
   ordinance or code of the locality;

   2. Rehabilitate or clear property so acquired;

   3. Provide for the installation, construction or reconstruction of streets,
   utilities, parks, parking facilities, playgrounds, public buildings and other
   site improvements essential to the conservation or rehabilitation planned;

   4. Make land or improvements so acquired available to nongovernmental persons
   or entities or public agencies (by sale, lease or retention of ownership by
   the authority itself);

   5. Assist the reconstruction of project areas by making loans or grants of
   funds received from any public or private source, for the purpose of
   facilitating the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or sale of
   housing or other improvements constructed or to be constructed on land
   situated within the boundaries of a conservation project;

   6. Encourage and assist property owners or occupants within the conservation
   area to improve their respective holdings, by suggesting improved standards
   for design, construction, maintenance and use of such properties and offering
   encouragement or assistance in other ways including the power to lend money
   and make grants to owners or occupants, directed toward prevention and
   elimination of blight;

   7. Acquire, construct or rehabilitate residential housing developments for
   occupancy by persons of low, moderate and middle income to be owned, operated,
   managed, leased, conveyed, mortgaged, encumbered or assigned by an authority.
   Income limits for such persons shall be determined for each conservation
   project by an authority by resolution adopted by a majority of its appointed
   commissioners, shall be adjusted for household size and may be revised as an
   authority deems appropriate. In connection with a residential housing
   development, an authority shall have all rights, power and privileges granted
   by subdivision 4 of &#xA7; 36-19; and

   8. Exercise such other powers as are authorized by law.

B. No conservation plan shall be effective until notice has been sent to the
property owner or owners of record in accordance with subsection B of &#xA7;
36-27 and the conservation plan has been approved by the local governing body.

HISTORY: 1964, c. 378; 1966, cc. 81, 418; 1968, c. 312; 1970, cc. 222, 491, 555,
596; 1972, c. 174; 1973, c. 29; 1974, c. 137; 1975, c. 532; 1976, c. 510; 1980,
c. 133; 1988, cc. 572, 591; 2006, c. 784.