2052                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                    Ch. 582

WHEREAS, It is hereby found and declared that there exist in

St. Michaels, Maryland areas or conditions which require

redevelopment, renewal, or rehabilitation with the aid and
assistance of federal and other government funds; that the
existence of those 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, aggravates traffic conditions and causes numerous
traffic problems; that the prevention and elimination of these
conditions is a matter of public concern to the State of Maryland

and St. Michaels, Talbot County. It is further found and

declared that the existence of these conditions makes it

necessary to acquire private property for redevelopment, renewal,
and rehabilitation and such acquisition is hereby declared to be

for a public purpose; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF

MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Municipal Charter of St. Michaels

ARTICLE XIII

REDEVELOPMENT - URBAN RENEWAL
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

(A)  IN THIS ARTICLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(B)  "FEDERAL GOVERNMENT" MEANS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
OR ANY AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY, CORPORATE OR OTHERWISE, OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

(C)  "SLUM AREA" MEANS ANY AREA WHERE DWELLINGS PREDOMINATE

WHICH, BY REASON OF DEPRECIATION, OVERCROWDING, FAULTY
ARRANGEMENT OR DESIGN, LACK OF VENTILATION, LIGHT OR SANITARY
FACILITIES, OR ANY COMBINATION OF THESE FACTORS, ARE DETRIMENTAL
TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH OR MORALS.

(D)  "BLIGHTED AREA" MEANS AN AREA IN WHICH A MAJORITY OF
BUILDINGS HAVE DECLINED IN PRODUCTIVITY BY REASON OF
OBSOLESCENCE, DEPRECIATION OR OTHER CAUSES TO AN EXTENT THEY NO
LONGER JUSTIFY FUNDAMENTAL REPAIRS AND ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE.

(E)  "URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT" MEANS UNDERTAKINGS AND
ACTIVITIES OF A MUNICIPALITY IN AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA FOR THE
ELIMINATION AND FOR THE PREVENTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OR SPREAD
OF SLUMS AND BLIGHT, AND MAY INVOLVE SLUM CLEARANCE AND
REDEVELOPMENT IN AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA, OR REHABILITATION OR
CONSERVATION IN AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA, OR ANY COMBINATION OR PART
OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN URBAN RENEWAL PLAN. THESE
UNDERTAKINGS AND ACTIVITIES MAY INCLUDE:

(1) ACQUISITION OF A SLUM AREA OR A BLIGHTED AREA OR
PORTION OF THEM;