Title
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO, MAKING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS THAT AN AREA OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE CITY IS A BLIGHTED AREA AND APPROPRIATE FOR AN URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT
Body
Summary:
In 2012, the City Council approved Resolution #2012-14, which approved the finding of blight on the former Mile High Greyhound Park site. This finding was substantiated by a Current Conditions Survey that was performed at that time. Subsequent to the approval of the resolution, the structures that supported the racing activities have been removed and a portion of the property has been developed with the Boys and Girls Club. Therefore, a new Current Conditions Survey was performed on the property, excluding the Boys and Girls Club site, in order to make a new finding of blight.
Background Information:
A Current Conditions Survey or Blight Study is used by a municipality to determine if a defined geographic area is “blighted” as defined by Colorado Urban Renewal Law. A Current Conditions Survey is not only necessary to allow an urban renewal effort to proceed legally, but it can serve as a valuable tool in supporting and legitimizing the entire urban renewal process.
Role of the Current Conditions Survey:
A determination of blight is a required step early in the urban renewal process. Before an urban renewal project can move forward, an urban renewal plan must be adopted by the local governing body. Prior to the adoption of this plan, however, the local governing body must make a determination that the project area is blighted, and designate the area as an urban renewal area. Without a determination of blight, the creation of an urban renewal area cannot proceed. It is the existence and recognition of blight that, in turn, permits urban renewal as a remedy. Therefore, the Blight Study is an inherent component in the use of urban renewal as a governmental power and as a planning tool.
What is Blight?
Colorado Urban Renewal Law offers a useful definition to consider. The state statute provides a definition for what constitutes a “blighted area”. That definition is:
“(Blight) constitutes a serious and growing menace, injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the residents of the state in general and municipalities thereof; that the existence of such areas contributes substantially to the spread of disease and crime, constitutes an economic and social liability, substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of municipalities, retards the provision of housing accommodations, aggravates traffic problems and impairs or arrests the elimination of traffic hazards and the improvement of traffic facilities; and that the prevention and elimination of slums and blight is a matter of public policy and statewide concern...”
Additionally, there are 11 factors when determining blight. They are:
A. Slum, deteriorated, or deteriorating structures;
B. Predominance of defective or inadequate street layout;
C. Faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness;
D. Unsanitary or unsafe conditions;
E. Deterioration of site or other improvements;
F. Unusual topography or inadequate public improvements or utilities;
G. Defective or unusual conditions of title rendering the title nonmarketable;
H. The existence of conditions that endanger life or property by fire or other causes;
I. Buildings that are unsafe or unhealthy for persons to live or work in because of building code violations, dilapidation, deterioration, defective design, physical construction, or faulty or inadequate facilities;
J. Environmental contamination of buildings or property; and
K.5. The existence of health, safety, or welfare factors requiring high levels of municipal services or substantial underutilization or vacancy of sites, buildings, or other improvements.
Components of the Current Conditions Study:
A Current Conditions Study consists of three general phases or components: defining the study area, conducting the field survey, and interpreting and reporting the results. These can all be found within the attached Current Conditions Survey. Cities and towns across Colorado have embraced the redevelopment of their distressed and underutilized areas as an effective way to generate economic activity, accommodate growth in a sustainable manner, and restore the fabric of their neighborhoods
Staff Responsible (Department Head): Chris Cramer, Community Development Director
Staff Member Presenting: Paul Workman, Planner
Financial Impact: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
Staff Recommendation: Approval
Suggested Motion: I move to approve Resolution 2016-130