HomeMy WebLinkAbout13259RESOLUTION NO. 13259
A RESOLUTION MAKING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS THAT THE
LOWER WESTSIDE AREA OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO IS A
BLIGHTED AREA AND APPROPRIATE FOR AN URBAN
RENEWAL PROJECT
WHEREAS, City Planning and Community Development Department staff (the “City
Staff”) has been retained by the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority of Pueblo (the “Authority”) to
conduct studies and surveys of the area (the “Area”) described in Exhibit A, attached to and
incorporated herein, to determine if the Area contains factors included in the definition of
“blighted area” in the Colorado Urban Renewal Law Sections 31-25-101, et seq., C.R.S., (the
“Act”); and
WHEREAS, the City Staff prepared, submitted and presented to the City Council a
document entitled “Lower Westside Conditions Survey” (the “Survey”) dated March 24, 2015,
which Survey is incorporated herein by this reference, and which describes in detail the
conditions in the Area that are summarized in Section 1, below; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
Based on a review of the Survey and in accordance with the Act, the City Council finds
and determines that the Area is a “blighted area” as defined in Section 31-25-103(2) of the Act,
and by reason of the presence of the following factors the Area substantially impairs or arrests
the sound growth of the City, retards the provision of housing accommodations, constitutes an
economic and social liability, and is a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare in
its present condition and use. The City Council finds and determines that the following factors
exist in the Area:
a. Slum, deteriorated, or deteriorating structures;
b. Predominance of defective or inadequate street layout;
c. Faulty lot layout in relation to size, adequacy, accessibility, or usefulness;
d. Unsanitary or unsafe conditions;
e. Deterioration of site or other improvements;
f. Inadequate public improvements or utilities;
g. Conditions that endanger life or property by fire and other causes;
h. Environmental contamination of buildings or property; and
i. Substantial physical underutilization or vacancy of sites, buildings, or other
improvements.
SECTION 2.
The City Council further finds and determines the Area is appropriate for an urban
renewal project pursuant to the Colorado Urban Renewal Law.
SECTION 3.
This Resolution is effective upon its approval by the City Council.
INTRODUCED: July 13, 2015
BY: Dennis Flores
City Clerk’s Office Item # K-1
BACKGROUND PAPER FOR PROPOSED
RESOLUTION
COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
July 13, 2015
TO: President Stephen G. Nawrocki and Members of City Council
CC: Sam Azad, City Manager
VIA: Gina Dutcher, City Clerk
FROM: Steven Meier, Director of Planning & Community Development
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION MAKING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS THAT THE LOWER
WESTSIDE AREA OF THE CITY OF PUEBLO IS A BLIGHTED AREA AND
APPROPRIATE FOR AN URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT
SUMMARY:
Attached is a Resolution for City Council consideration that will make certain legislative findings
to determine that the area commonly referred to as the Lower Westside is a blighted area as
defined by Section 31-25-103(2) of Colorado Revised Statues.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
On December 8, 2014, City Council approved Resolution No. 13129 instructing the Pueblo
Urban Renewal Authority to commission a blight study of the area described as the Lower
Westside. The Authority and the City entered into a Memorandum of Understanding whereby
the City would allocate resources of the City Planning and Community Development
Department to perform the blight study on the Authority's behalf.
BACKGROUND:
As directed by Resolution No. 13129, relevant conditions were researched, documented,
photographed, and compared with the blight factors pursuant to the Urban Renewal Act. The
result of the survey is included in a document entitled “Lower Westside Conditions Survey” (the
Conditions Survey) dated March 24, 2015, consisting of 43 pages, related exhibits, a description
of existing conditions, and numerous photographs. The Conditions Survey is incorporated in this
Resolution in its entirety by reference.
The Conditions Survey shows that the following factors listed in the Act are present in the Area
and that these conditions qualify the Area as a “blighted area” as defined in the Act:
1. Slum, deteriorated, or deteriorating structures;
2. Predominance of defective or inadequate street layout;
3. Faulty lot layout in relation to adequacy, accessibility, size or usefulness;
4. Unsanitary or unsafe conditions;
5. Deterioration of site or other improvements;
6. Inadequate public improvements or utilities;
7. Conditions that endanger life or property by fire or other causes;
8. Environmental contamination of buildings or property; and
9. Substantial physical underutilization or vacancy of sites, buildings, or other
improvements
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
As permitted by the Urban Renewal Act, funds from future incremental tax growth will be
deposited in a special fund and used by the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority for improvements in
the Lower Westside.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
On April 14, 2015, the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority unanimously approved the findings of
the Lower Westside Conditions Survey.
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
Public meetings have been held and public notices have been issued. Feedback from the
residents and businesses in the Lower Westside has been positive and most will agree that the
area is a blighted area.
ALTERNATIVES:
Not Applicable.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of the Resolution.