CHAPTER 312

An Act to amend and reenact § 36-49.1, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to preparation and adoption of conservation plans
by certain cities and counties.

[fH 909]

Approved April 2, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 36-49.1, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 36-49.1. Preparation and adoption of “conservation plan” by cer-
tain cities and counties; authority to carry out “conservation project”;
public hearing prior to approval of plan.—Whenever it appears to the gov-
erning body of any city having a population of more than seventy thousand,
or any city having a population of not more than forty-five thousand nor
less than twenty-three thousand, or any city having a population of not
more than eighteen thousand seven hundred nor less than seventeen
thousand two hundred, or any city having a population of not more than
seventeen thousand six hundred nor less than sixteen thousand, or any
city having a population of not more than eleven thousand five hundred
nor less than eleven thousand, or any city having a population of not more
than fifteen thousand nor less than twelve thousand, a county having a
population of not more than thirty-one thousand four hundred nor less
than thirty-one thousand three hundred, or a county having a population
of more than four thousand inhabitants per square mile, that a portion
of such city or county is deteriorating and may be eligible for conservation
as provided by this section, and such governing body adopts a resolution
so declaring, an authority may, in addition to other powers granted by this
or any other law, investigate such portion of the locality and select slum,
blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating areas and prepare a plan for the
conservation thereof to be known as a “conservation plan.” Upon approval
of such plan by the governing body of such city or county, the authority
is specifically empowered to do the following in order to carry out the work
or undertaking as called for in such plan (hereinafter called a “conserva-
tion project’’):

(1) To acquire property within such areas which is blighted, desig-
nated 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 city or county;

(2) To rehabilitate or clear property so acquired;

(8) To 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) To make land or improvements so acquired available to private
enterprise or public agencies (by sale, lease or retention of ownership by
the authority itself) ; and

(5) To encourage and assist property owners or occupants within the
conservation area to improve their respective holdings, by suggesting im-
proved standards for design, construction, maintenance and use of such
properties and offering encouragement or assistance in other ways directed
toward prevention and elimination of blight.

(6) The governing body shall conduct a public hearing prior to ap-
proval of a conservation plan.