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Home My WebLink AboutDESIGNATE REVITALIZATION DISTRICTS IN EAST AUGUSTA TO ESTABLISH THE BOUNDARIES OF SAID REVITALIZATION DISTRICTS t RESOLUTION TO DESIGNATE REVITALIZATION DISTRICTS IN EAST AUGUSTA, SAND IDLLS, ARAGON PARKIHYDE PARK AND THE DOVER STREET/LYMAN STREET AREAS; TO ESTABLISH THE BOUNDARIES OF SAID REVITALIZATION DISTRICTS; TO AUTHORIZE THE HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (ABEDD), OR ITS DESIGNATED SUCCESSOR ENTITY, TO ACT AS TBE CLEARINGHOUSE AND TO IMPLEMENT TBE PROVISIONS OF THE TARGET AREA MASTER AND ASSOCIATED REVITALIZATION PLANS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, the "Redevelopment Powers Law" (O.C.G.A. 36-44-1 et seq.) provides for the exercise of redevelopment powers and the creation of redevelopment plans by counties and municipalities in the State of Georgia; and WHEREAS, the legislative purpose of the "Redevelopment Powers Law" is to improve the economic and social conditions within economically depressed urban areas and through redevelopment to the maximum extent practicable to abate or eliminate economically and socially depressed areas; WHEREAS, it is in the public interest that the Redevelopment Powers Law be exercised to enable public/private Partnerships to improve economic and social conditions in the neighborhoods included within the boundaries of the proposed revitalization districts; and WHEREAS, the state of Georgia has declared its policy to provide decent, safe and affordable housing to its citizens by encouraging local governments to establish a Housing Trust Fund from dedicated sources of revenue as well as other mechanisms to finance and promote revitalization; and WHEREAS, the Augusta-Richmond County Commission desires to induce the investment of private resources in productive business enterprises, service enterprises, and encourage residential rehabilitation and new residential construction located in an area meeting criteria established under and set forth in Title 36, Chapter 88 et seq. and subsequently amended, known as the Enterprise Zone Employment act of 1997 for the State of Georgia as set forth in Georgia Statutes Annotated, hereinafter referred to as the Act, and to provide employment to residents of such area; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Commission adopted the Target Area Master Plan on July 1,2003, NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION OF AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY, GEORGIA HEREBY ORDAINS: 1 SECTION 1. In the geographic areas known as East Augusta, Sand Hills, Aragon ParklHyde Park and Dover StreetlLyman Street, as depicted on the map included as Exhibit A, a copy of which is attached hereto and hereby incorporated by reference, and in compliance with O.c.G.A. 36-88-6, the following findings of fact are made: a) The neighborhoods within the proposed revitalization districts suffer from pervasive poverty and development through private enterprise cannot be reasonably anticipated without their designation as revitalization districts. b) Data published by the Office of Labor Information Systems of the Georgia Department of Labor indicate that the proposed revitalization districts have a higher than average rate of unemployment. c) A significant number of abandoned, dilapidated and obsolete buildings exist within the proposed revitalization districts. d) Data indicate that the proposed revitalization districts suffer from a higher than average incidence of crime. e) A quantitative tax base analysis indicates that there is evidence of declining residential property values within the proposed revitalization districts. f) There is evidence of insufficient or non-connecting street layout and deteriorated or insufficient infrastructure within the proposed revitalization districts. g) Within the proposed Aragon ParklHyde Park there are at least two identified Environmental Protection Agency sites that have been cleaned up, and several Brownfield areas in the form of abandoned agricultural and industrial-use sites that may pose potential environmental concerns. SECTION 2. Based upon the findings of fact set forth in Section 1, the Mayor and the Commission hereby designate the East Augusta, Sand Hills, Aragon ParklHyde Park and Dover StreetlLyman Street areas as revitalization districts, and declares that the improvements are likely to enhance the value of a substantial portion of real estate in and around the districts. SECTION 3. The Mayor and the Commission hereby establish the boundaries of the East Augusta, Sand Hills, Aragon ParklHyde Park and Dover Street/Lyman Street Revitalization Districts as those shown on the map labeled Exhibit A and attached to this Resolution. 2 SECTION 4. The Commission may grant incentives as provided by O.c.G.A. 36-88-7 and 36-88-9 and as may be subsequently amended from time to time. Such incentives will be negotiated by the Commission on a case-by-case basis and may include, but shall not be limited to, exemptions from any or all of the following: a) Occupation Tax b) Building Permit Fees c) Sign Permit Fees d) Business License Administrative Fees e) Rezoning Fees f) Engineering Fees g) Local Historic Preservation Requirements h) Other local fees and ordinances authorized by the Commission, as may be applicable The Commission may make determinations of eligibility for incentives based on the quality and quantity of such additional economic stimulus as may be created within the Augusta. The criteria for consideration may include, but shall not be limited to, the following: a) The value of the business to the economic health and well being of Augusta and its citizens. b) Capital investment or reinvestment by the business equal to or greater than the amount of ad valorem tax abated over the first five years of the tax incentive. c) Locating in a vacant building; d) Demolishing an obsolete, abandoned and/or deteriorating structure; e) Enhancing the area by incorporating elements such as significant landscaping, area-compatible fayade materials and exclusion of billboards on premises; f) Assembling multiple tracts ofland for one project; g) Creating jobs above the state threshold; h) Creating jobs for residents of the revitalization district and surrounding area. SECTION 5. The Commission designates the Augusta Housing and Economic Development Department (AHEDD) as the revitalization clearinghouse and directs AHEDD to coordinate implementation of projects and activities outlined in the Targeted Area Master Plan and related revitalization plans. SECTION 6. The Commission shall be the authorized body to act in all matters pertaining to the enterprise zones and reserves the power to grant the incentives listed in Section 4 to qualifying businesses or qualifying service enterprises in accordance with the authorization granted local governments by the Enterprise Zone Employment Act. The Commission shall administer and enforce compliance with the provisions of the ordinance and such administrative rules or regulations adopted hereinafter by way of resolution including but not limited to reports from business within the target area to verify compliance with this ordinance and state law. 3 SECTION 7. A qualifying business or service enterprise shall enter into a written agreement setting forth the investment and improvements being made by the company in return for the incentives offered by the Commission. The incentives are subject to being revoked by the Commission should the terms of the agreement be violated by the business or service enterprise. Duly adopted this 4- day of kiJ ,2005. AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY COMMISSION .~ ~ B. Attem:~fMtN ena Bonner e) Exhibit A - Map of Proposed Revitalization Districts for East Augusta, South Augusta East and South Augusta West 4 -$:, ~ ~ (.) '1: ~ ~ .! z ~ C ~ en co ::J C 0::: (!) ~ 0 ::J ::J .... co ~ ~"'\ +:i 0::: ~ c.. CG W I- Q) -- .!::! z en -0 - Z ~ >- ~~ CG w ~ W .- :E > -.:2 Q) <( 0::: z W~ ~OT; 0> c: E 8t: wro 'T,O- ,~'O> Le>O ~T'~;T~ 'o"E , J: 0- ro'.Q _"0> ,l/)'> 5,0> '::JO ,T<CT, '" o ~ ~,c;.t