MUNICIPAL LAND CLEARANCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT LAW (1951)

Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 99
Municipal Housing
Section 99.300

Citation of law.
99.300. Sections 99.300 to 99.600 shall be known and may be cited as the "Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority Law".

Declaration of policy.
99.310. It is hereby found and declared that there exists in municipalities of the state insanitary, blighted, deteriorated and deteriorating areas which constitute a serious and growing menace injurious to the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the state . . . that the elimination or prevention of the detrimental conditions in such areas, the acquisition and preparation of land in or necessary to the development, renewal or rehabilitation of such areas and its sale or lease for development, renewal or rehabilitation . . . and any assistance . . . for which public money may be expended and private property acquired . . . and that certain insanitary, blighted, deteriorated areas, or portions thereof, may require acquisition and clearance, as provided by law, since the prevailing conditions of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area . . .but other areas . . . may be susceptible of conservation or rehabilitation in such a manner . . . enumerated may be eliminated, remedied, or prevented, and to the extent feasible, salvable, insanitary and blighted areas should be conserved and rehabilitated through voluntary action and the regulatory process.

Definitions.
99.320. As used in this law, the following terms mean:

(2) "Authority" or "land clearance for redevelopment authority", a public body corporate and politic created by or pursuant to section 99.300 or any other public body exercising the powers, rights and duties of such an authority;

(3) "Blighted area", an area which, by reason of the predominance of defective or inadequate street layout, insanitary or unsafe conditions, deterioration of site improvements, improper subdivision or obsolete platting, or the existence of conditions which endanger life or property.

(10) "Land clearance project", any work or undertaking:

(a) To acquire blighted, or insanitary areas . . . including lands, structures, or improvements the acquisition of which is necessary or incidental to the proper clearance, development or redevelopment of the blighted or insanitary . . .

(b) To clear any such areas by demolition or removal of existing buildings, structures, streets, utilities or other improvements . . . and to install, construct or reconstruct streets, utilities, and site improvements essential to the preparation of sites for uses in accordance with a redevelopment plan.

(c) To sell, lease or otherwise make available land in such areas for residential, recreational, commercial, industrial or other use or for public use or to retain such land for public use . . .

Authority may be created, when.
99.330. There is hereby created in each community . . . a public body corporate and politic to be known as the "Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority" of the community.

(2) The governing body of a community shall not adopt a resolution or ordinance . . . unless it finds:

(a) That one or more blighted, or insanitary areas . . . exist in such community, and

(b) That the redevelopment of such areas is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety, morals or welfare of the residents of such community.

Preparation and approval of redevelopment and urban renewal plans - modification of plan.
99.430. 1. Preparation and approval of redevelopment and urban renewal plans shall be carried out within the following regulations:

(1) An authority shall not acquire real property for a land clearance or urban renewal project unless the governing body of the community . . . has approved the redevelopment or urban renewal plan . . .

(2) An authority shall not prepare a redevelopment or urban renewal plan . . . unless the governing body of the community . . . has declared . . . the area to be a blighted, or insanitary area in need of redevelopment or in need of rehabilitation.

(4) The authority itself may prepare or cause to be prepared a redevelopment or urban renewal plan or any person or agency, public or private, may submit such a plan to an authority.

(a) The boundaries of the land clearance or urban renewal project area . . .

(b) A land use plan showing proposed uses of the area;

(c) Information showing the standards of population densities, land coverage and building intensities . . .

(d) A statement of proposed changes . . . in zoning ordinances or maps, street layouts, street levels or grades, building codes and ordinances;

(e) A statement as to the kind and number of additional public facilities or utilities which will be required . . .

(f) A schedule indicating the estimated length of time needed for completion of each phase of the plan.

Authority may dispose of property, how.
99.450. Property in a land clearance project may be disposed of as follows:

(1) An authority may sell, lease, exchange or otherwise transfer real property or any interest therein in a land clearance project area to any redeveloper for residential, or recreational, commercial, industrial or other uses or for public use in accordance with the redevelopment plan.

Power of eminent domain - procedure
99.460. 1. An authority shall have the right to acquire by the exercise of the power of eminent domain any real property which it may deem necessary for a land clearance project or for its purposes under this law after the adoption by it of a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the real property described therein is necessary for such purposes.