For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section unless a different meaning is clearly indicated in the context:
(a) "Agency" or"Urban Renewal Agency" or"Local Public Agency" means the City of Norwood, Ohio.
(b) "Slum, Blighted or Deteriorated Area" means either of the following:
(1) A “slum area” is an area within the City of Norwood in which area there is a predominance of buildings, improvements (including such public improvements as streets and utilities) or uses, whether residential or non- residential, which by reason of dilapidation, deterioration, age or obsolescence, substantial vacancy of existing structures; inadequate provision for ventilation, light, air, sanitation or open spaces; high density of population and overcrowding; or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property, by fire and other causes, or any combination of such factors, jeopardizes public safety, or is detrimental to the public health, morals or welfare, and/or
(2) A blighted or deteriorated area which is an area within Norwood, which by reason of the presence of a substantial number of deteriorated or deteriorating structures; the predominance of defective and inadequate street and/or sidewalk layout; faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility; setback, or usefulness (including nonconforming substandard lot sizes); unsanitary or unsafe conditions; deterioration of site or other improvements; high vacancy and/or turnover; diversity of ownership, making assemblage for redevelopment unusually difficult; tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair market value of the land; defective or unusual conditions to title; or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire or other causes or any combination of such factors which combined substantially impairs or arrests the sound growth of Norwood, retards the provision of modern housing accommodations, or constitutes an economic or social liability and is therefore a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare in its present condition and use.
(c) "Deteriorating area" means an area within the City of Norwood whether predominantly built up or open which is not a slum, blighted or deteriorated area, but which, because of incompatible land uses which conflict with other uses by creating negative impacts such as noise, odor, dust, light and other similar factors; nonconforming uses; lack of adequate parking facilities; faulty street arrangements, including poorly designed streets and dead end streets, particularly those off of state highways and other high volume roadways, with inadequate turning radii which create difficulty for emergency vehicles as well as delivery vehicles and are hazardous when large vehicles must back out onto busy streets; obsolete platting, including undersize lots and inadequate setbacks; inadequate community and public utilities; diversity of ownership, making assemblage for redevelopment unusually difficult; tax delinquency; increased density of population without commensurate increases in new residential buildings and community facilities; high turnover in residential or commercial occupancy; lack of maintenance and repair of buildings; repeated instances of building, health, fire or other life safety code violations, or any combination thereof, is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals and general welfare and which is likely to deteriorate or is in danger of deteriorating into a blighted area.
(d) “Project area” or "urban renewal area" means a slum, blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating area or any combination or part thereof which Council designates as of a character and size appropriate for urban renewal activities and for which an Urban Renewal Plan is proposed or prepared.
(e) "Urban renewal" or “urban renewal activities” means the activities of the City, with or without Federal or State aid or assistance, for developing, undertaking and carrying out urban renewal programs and projects, including all planning and other related activities of the City in connection therewith, or any part of such activities.
(f) “Open space land" means land which has not been developed by the construction or installation of streets, utilities, buildings (except sporadic or incidental structures) or other site improvements. Whether or not such an area has been platted in whole or in part does not prevent its classification as "open space land."
(g) "Redeveloper" means any person, or entity:
(1) Purchasing property from the City within an urban renewal area; or
(2) Owning property located within such area, and, entering into a conforming agreement with the City in consideration of being permitted by the City to retain title to such property.
(h) "Urban renewal plan" means a plan, as it exists from time to time, for the urban renewal of a project area or part thereof.
(i) "Urban renewal project" or "project" means undertakings and activities of the City of Norwood, with or without Federal or State aid or assistance, in an urban renewal area for the elimination and for the prevention of the development or spread of blight, and may involve clearance and redevelopment in an urban renewal area, or rehabilitation and conservation in an urban renewal area, or any combination or part thereof, in accordance with such urban renewal plan to the full extent of and in accordance with the rights, powers and authority of the City, whether derived from the applicable provisions of the Federal or State constitution or statutes, or the City ordinances. Such undertakings and activities may include:
(1) Acquisition of realty in an urban renewal area.
(2) Demolition and removal of buildings and improvements in such area.
(3) Installation, construction or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds and other improvements necessary for carrying out the urban renewal plan.
(4) Disposition of any property acquired in the urban renewal area for uses consonant with the urban renewal plan.
(5) Encouraging and assisting interested citizens in a private program of voluntary repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements in accordance with the urban renewal plan, with or without aid and assistance by Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance or special support for mortgage financing through the Federal National Mortgage Association or similar organizations.
(6) Acquisition of any real property in the urban renewal area where necessary to eliminate unhealthy, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, lessen such lot occupancy or population density as create such conditions, eliminate uses incompatible with the general character of a neighborhood and which are detrimental to the public welfare, or otherwise to remove or prevent the spread of blight or deterioration, or to provide land for needed public facilities; and disposition of property, so acquired in accordance with this subsection (i)(6), for voluntary repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements in accordance with the urban renewal plan.
(7) Purchase, repair and rehabilitation and resale of buildings which are located in the urban renewal area and which, under the urban renewal plan, are to be repaired or rehabilitated for dwelling use or related facilities.
(j) "General plan" means a broad and general guide and pattern for the future growth and development of the City, as such is currently embodied in the Zoning Map and Code of the City which maybe amended from time to time.
(k) "Slum clearance" or "redevelopment" may include those undertakings and activities identified in subsections (i)(1), (2), (3) and (4).
(l) "Rehabilitation, "conservation" or "reconditioning" may include those undertakings and activities identified in subsections (i)(3), (4), (5), (6) and (7).
(Ord. 31-2005. Passed 9-13-05.)