5250

COUNTY LOCAL LAWS

COUNTY, MARYLAND, that -

Sec. 1. A new Article IV, title "Urban Renewal
Grants or Loans to Municipalities", is hereby added to
Chapter 56, title "Urban Renewal and Community
Development", to consist of new Sections 56—21 through
56—24 of the Montgomery County Code 1972, to read as
follows:

ARTICLE IV

URBAN RENEWAL GRANTS OR LOANS TO MUNICIPALITIES

56-21 DECLARATION OF POLICY.

THE COUNCIL FINDS THAT THERE EXISTS WITHIN THE
TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF MUNICIPALITIES IN MONTGOMERY
COUNTY, BLIGHTED AREAS, OR SLUM CONDITIONS WHICH REQUIRE
REHABILITATION; THAT THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH AREAS
CONTRIBUTES TO THE SPREAD OF CRIME AND DISEASE,
CONSTITUTES AN ECONOMIC AND MORAL LIABILITY, DECREASES
THE TAX BASE, REDUCES TAX REVENUES, INCREASES JUVENILE
DELINQUENCY WITHIN THE ENTIRE COUNTY; THAT THE PREVENTION
AND ELIMINATION OF SLUM AND BLIGHTED AREAS IS A MATTER OF
PUBLIC POLICY OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND MONTGOMERY
COUNTY. IT IS FURTHER FOUND AND DECLARED THAT LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES MAY REQUIRE ASSISTANCE FINANCIALLY TO
REHABILITATE SUCH BLIGHTED AREA, OR SLUM CONDITIONS. IT
IS FURTHER FOUND AND DECLARED THAT THE AIDING OF LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES FINANCIALLY TO REHABILITATE SUCH BLIGHTED
AREAS OR SLUM CONDITIONS SERVES TO MAINTAIN THE PEACE,
GOOD GOVERNMENT, HEALTH AND WELFARE OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

56-22 AUTHORITY

MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO MAKE
GRANTS OR LOANS TO MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC
BOUNDARY OF THE COUNTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT
URBAN RENEWAL PROJECTS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF SUCH
MUNICIPALITIES.

56-23 PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL OF GRANT OR LOAN
APPLICATIONS.

(A)    ANY MUNICIPALITY WITHIN THE COUNTY IS
AUTHORIZED TO APPLY FOR A GRANT OR LOAN FROM THE COUNTY
TO ASSIST IN FINANCING AN URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT WITHIN
SUCH MUNICIPALITY. THE APPLICATION SHALL BE IN SUCH FORM
AND CONTAIN SUCH INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE
COUNTY.

(B)    PRIOR TO AUTHORIZING FINAL APPROVAL OF AN
APPLICATION FOR A FINANCIAL GRANT OR LOAN, THE COUNTY
COUNCIL SHALL: