Chap. 476.—An ACT authorizing cities of between 100,000 and 125,000 popula-
tion to impose assessments upon abutting land owners for certain im-
provements of walkways and alleys, and for the construction and use of
sewers; providing for notice and appeal. [S B 315]

Approved March 25, 1926.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That all
cities within the Commonwealth of Virginia which, by the United
States census of nineteen hundred and twenty, had a population of not
less than one hundred thousand nor more than one hundred and
twenty-five thousand shall have the right to impose an assessment
upon abutting land owners for making and improving the walkways
upon then existing streets, and for improving and paving then existing
alleys, and for either the construction or for the use of sewers, pro-
vided, that the assessment so imposed shall not be in excess of the
peculiar benefits resulting therefrom to such abutting land owners.
Such improvements may be ordered by the council and the cost
thereof apportioned in pursuance of an agreement between such city
and the abutting land owners. And in the absence of an agreement,
improvements, the cost of which is to be defrayed in whole or in part
by such local assessment, may be ordered on a petition from not less
than three-fourths of the land owners to be affected thereby, or by a
two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the council. But notice
shall first be given as provided by section thirty hundred and sixty-
nine of the Code of Virginia, to the abutting land owners, notifying
them when and where they may appear before the council or some
committee thereof, or the administrative board or other similar board
of the city, to whom the matter may be referred, to be heard in favor
of or against such improvements. The cost of such improvement,
when same shall have been ascertained, shall be assessed or appor-
tioned by the council or by some committee thereof, or by any officer
or board authorized by the council to make such assessment or appor-
tionment between the city and the abutting land owners.

Any abutting land owner aggrieved by such assessment or appor-
tionment shall have the right to appeal to the circuit or corporation
court of the city wherein such land lies and the proceedings upon such
appeal shall be in conformity with sections thirty hundred and sev-
enty, and thirty hundred and seventy-one of the Code of Virginia.