§ 160A-502. Additional findings and declaration of policy.
§ 160A‑502. Additional findings and declaration of policy.
It is further determined and declared as a matter of legislativefinding:
(1) That the cities of North Carolina constitute importantassests for the State and its citizens; that the preservation of the citiesand of urban life against physical, social, and other hazards is vital to thesafety, health, and welfare of the citizens of the State, and sound urbandevelopment in the future is essential to the continued economic development ofNorth Carolina, and that the creation, existence, and growth of substandardareas present substantial hazards to the cities of the State, to urban life,and to sound future urban development.
(2) That blight exists in commercial and industrial areas aswell as in residential areas, in the form of dilapidated, deteriorated, poorlyventilated, obsolete, overcrowded, unsanitary, or unsafe buildings, inadequateand unsafe streets, inadequate lots, and other conditions detrimental to thesound growth of the community; that the presence of such conditions tends todepress the value of neighboring properties, to impair the tax base of thecommunity, and to inhibit private efforts to rehabilitate or improve otherstructures in the area; and that the acquisition, preparation, sale, soundreplanning and redevelopment of such areas in accordance with sound andapproved plans will promote the public health, safety, convenience and welfare.
(3) That not only is it in the interest of the public health,safety, convenience and welfare to eliminate existing substandard areas of alltypes, but it is also in the public interest and less costly to the communityto prevent the creation of new blighted areas or the expansion of existingblighted areas; that vigorous enforcement of municipal and State buildingstandards, sound planning of new community facilities, public acquisition ofdilapidated, obsolescent buildings, and other municipal action can aid inpreventing the creation of new blighted areas or the expansion of existingblighted areas; and that rehabilitation, conservation, and reconditioning ofareas in accordance with sound and approved plans, where, in the absence ofsuch action, there is a clear and present danger that the area will becomeblighted, will protect and promote the public health, safety, convenience andwelfare.
Therefore it is hereby declared to be the policy of the State of NorthCarolina to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of theinhabitants of its urban areas by authorizing redevelopment commissions toundertake nonresidential redevelopment in accord with sound and approved plansand to undertake the rehabilitation, conservation, and reconditioning of areaswhere, in the absence of such action, there is a clear and present danger thatthe area will become blighted. (1961, c. 837, s. 1; 1973, c. 426, s. 75.)