The following land use policy is adopted pursuant to the City Community Development Block Grant Program, No. B-79-DN-21-0044 and No. B-80-DN-21-0066.
(A) The purpose of this policy is to provide direction to all staff members and local officials in determining the types of land uses to be allowed on land that has been or will be acquired as a result of the Community Development Program of the city. It is desired that this land use policy be one that will be consistent with the goals outlined in the Comprehensive Strategy of the 1979 and 1980 applications for Block Grant Funds.
(B) One of the goals of the project, as stated in the Housing Assistance Plan (HAP) is increasing the number of single family homeowners in the target areas. Many of the relocatees have expressed a strong desire to remain in the project area. In addition, it is hoped that the improved level of services will encourage other community residents to invest in the target areas.
(1) The first priority for land use shall be given to those homeowners whose homes have been acquired by project action. These persons shall be allowed to build back on their former lots, if they so desire, and the city shall deed their lot back to them at no cost to the home-owned; however, the lot must be in compliance with current zoning regulations.
(2) Displaced homeowners not rebuilding on their existing lot will be given a choice of available lots located in the project area at no cost to the homeowner, providing the lots conform to current zoning regulations.
(3) The above actions are subject to the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition (24 C.F.R. part 42) regulations as amended by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(4) The second priority shall be given to project area residents, presently tenants, who wish to become homeowners. This policy shall apply also to any low/moderate income citizens who live elsewhere in the city who wish to build homes in the target area. Building lots shall be provided to these persons at a price not to exceed the appraised fair market value for the land under consideration. Additionally, every effort shall be made by staff members to aid in securing either conventional or FmHA loans for these persons.
(5) In the event that there is land remaining, these parcels may either be sold to the original land owner at a price not less than the appraised value of the land minus the buildings, or the city may receive sealed bids for each parcel of land available. When the lot is sold, the deed from the city shall contain certain restrictions that will prevent recurrence of the blight and substandard conditions that first necessitated acquisition. These restrictions shall insure that development on these lots will be consistent with state and local building codes and will contain adequate lot frontage and building size.
(C) There are certain types of land uses which should be prohibited or severely restricted in order to develop and maintain a high quality of life for neighborhood residents. These uses include:
(1) Mobile homes;
(2) Industrial or commercial use; and
(3) Multi-family development, unless it can be shown that sufficient demand exists in the city for this type of use. If such development does occur, it shall not decrease or diminish the quality of life nor the level of services provided to existing neighborhood residents.
(D) This policy shall take effect after review and approval by the Citizens Advisory Committee, and then by the City Commission. Any exceptions to this policy shall be allowed only by the City Commission, first reading July 13, 1981.
(Ord. 970.1, passed 8-13-1981)