Kansas Statutes
Article 17 - Buildings, Structures And Grounds
12-1770a Definitions.

12-1770a. Definitions. As used in this act, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning clearly appears from the content:
(a) "Auto race track facility" means: (1) An auto race track facility and facilities directly related and necessary to the operation of an auto race track facility, including, but not limited to, grandstands, suites and viewing areas, concessions, souvenir facilities, catering facilities, visitor and retail centers, signage and temporary hospitality facilities, but excluding (2) hotels, motels, restaurants and retail facilities, not directly related to or necessary to the operation of such facility.
(b) "Base year assessed valuation" means the assessed valuation of all real property within the boundaries of a redevelopment district on the date the redevelopment district was established.
(c) "Blighted area" means an area which:
(1) Because of the presence of a majority of the following factors, substantially impairs or arrests the development and growth of the municipality or constitutes an economic or social liability or is a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare in its present condition and use:
(A) A substantial number of deteriorated or deteriorating structures;
(B) predominance of defective or inadequate street layout;
(C) unsanitary or unsafe conditions;
(D) deterioration of site improvements;
(E) tax or special assessment delinquency exceeding the fair market value of the real property;
(F) defective or unusual conditions of title including, but not limited to, cloudy or defective titles, multiple or unknown ownership interests to the property;
(G) improper subdivision or obsolete platting or land uses;
(H) the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire or other causes; or
(I) conditions which create economic obsolescence;
(2) has been identified by any state or federal environmental agency as being environmentally contaminated to an extent that requires a remedial investigation; feasibility study and remediation or other similar state or federal action;
(3) a majority of the property is a 100-year floodplain area; or
(4) previously was found by resolution of the governing body to be a slum or a blighted area under K.S.A. 17-4742 et seq., and amendments thereto.
(d) "Conservation area" means any improved area comprising 15% or less of the land area within the corporate limits of a city in which 50% or more of the structures in the area have an age of 35 years or more, which area is not yet blighted, but may become a blighted area due to the existence of a combination of two or more of the following factors:
(1) Dilapidation, obsolescence or deterioration of the structures;
(2) illegal use of individual structures;
(3) the presence of structures below minimum code standards;
(4) building abandonment;
(5) excessive vacancies;
(6) overcrowding of structures and community facilities; or
(7) inadequate utilities and infrastructure.
(e) "De minimus" means an amount less than 15% of the land area within a redevelopment district.
(f) "Developer" means any person, firm, corporation, partnership or limited liability company, other than a city and other than an agency, political subdivision or instrumentality of the state or a county when relating to a bioscience development district.
(g) "Eligible area" means a blighted area, conservation area, enterprise zone, intermodal transportation area, major tourism area or a major commercial entertainment and tourism area, bioscience development area or a building or buildings which are 65 years of age or older and any contiguous vacant or condemned lots.
(h) "Enterprise zone" means an area within a city that was designated as an enterprise zone prior to July 1, 1992, pursuant to K.S.A. 12-17,107 through 12-17,113, and amendments thereto, prior to its repeal and the conservation, development or redevelopment of the area is necessary to promote the general and economic welfare of such city.
(i) "Environmental increment" means the increment determined pursuant to K.S.A. 12-1771a(b), and amendments thereto.
(j) "Environmentally contaminated area" means an area of land having contaminated groundwater or soil which is deemed environmentally contaminated by the department of health and environment or the United States environmental protection agency.
(k) (1) "Feasibility study" means:
(A) A study which shows whether a redevelopment project's or bioscience development project's benefits and tax increment revenue and other available revenues under K.S.A. 12-1774(a)(1), and amendments thereto, are expected to exceed or be sufficient to pay for the redevelopment or bioscience development project costs; and
(B) the effect, if any, the redevelopment project costs or bioscience development project will have on any outstanding special obligation bonds payable from the revenues described in K.S.A. 12-1774(a)(1)(D), and amendments thereto.
(2) For a redevelopment project or bioscience project financed by bonds payable from revenues described in K.S.A. 12-1774(a)(1)(D), and amendments thereto, the feasibility study must also include:
(A) A statement of how the taxes obtained from the project will contribute significantly to the economic development of the jurisdiction in which the project is located;
(B) a statement concerning whether a portion of the local sales and use taxes are pledged to other uses and are unavailable as revenue for the redevelopment project. If a portion of local sales and use taxes is so committed, the applicant shall describe the following:
(i) The percentage of sales and use taxes collected that are so committed; and
(ii) the date or dates on which the local sales and use taxes pledged to other uses can be pledged for repayment of special obligation bonds;
(C) an anticipated principal and interest payment schedule on the bonds;
(D) following approval of the redevelopment plan, the feasibility study shall be supplemented to include a copy of the minutes of the governing body meeting or meetings of any city whose bonding authority will be utilized in the project, evidencing that a redevelopment plan has been created, discussed, and adopted by the city in a regularly scheduled open public meeting; and
(E) the failure to include all information enumerated in this subsection in the feasibility study for a redevelopment or bioscience project shall not affect the validity of bonds issued pursuant to this act.
(l) "Major tourism area" means an area for which the secretary has made a finding the capital improvements costing not less than $100,000,000 will be built in the state to construct an auto race track facility.
(m) "Real property taxes" means all taxes levied on an ad valorem basis upon land and improvements thereon, except that "real property taxes" does not include:
(1) Property taxes levied by school districts pursuant to K.S.A. 72-5142, and amendments thereto, when relating to a bioscience development district; and
(2) property taxes levied by school districts pursuant to K.S.A. 72-53,113, and amendments thereto, when relating to a bioscience development district or a redevelopment district established on or after July 1, 2017.
(n) "Redevelopment project area" means an area designated by a city within a redevelopment district or, if the redevelopment district is established for an intermodal transportation area, an area designated by a city within or outside of the redevelopment district.
(o) "Redevelopment project costs" means: (1) Those costs necessary to implement a redevelopment project plan or a bioscience development project plan, including costs incurred for:
(A) Acquisition of property within the redevelopment project area;
(B) payment of relocation assistance pursuant to a relocation assistance plan as provided in K.S.A. 12-1777, and amendments thereto;
(C) site preparation including utility relocations;
(D) sanitary and storm sewers and lift stations;
(E) drainage conduits, channels, levees and river walk canal facilities;
(F) street grading, paving, graveling, macadamizing, curbing, guttering and surfacing;
(G) street light fixtures, connection and facilities;
(H) underground gas, water, heating and electrical services and connections located within the public right-of-way;
(I) sidewalks and pedestrian underpasses or overpasses;
(J) drives and driveway approaches located within the public right-of-way;
(K) water mains and extensions;
(L) plazas and arcades;
(M) major multi-sport athletic complex;
(N) museum facility;
(O) parking facilities including multilevel parking facilities;
(P) landscaping and plantings, fountains, shelters, benches, sculptures, lighting, decorations and similar amenities;
(Q) related expenses to redevelop and finance the redevelopment project;
(R) for purposes of an incubator project, such costs shall also include wet lab equipment including hoods, lab tables, heavy water equipment and all such other equipment found to be necessary or appropriate for a commercial incubator wet lab facility by the city in its resolution establishing such redevelopment district or a bioscience development district;
(S) costs for the acquisition of land for and the construction and installation of publicly-owned infrastructure improvements which serve an intermodal transportation area and are located outside of a redevelopment district; and
(T) costs for infrastructure located outside the redevelopment district but contiguous to any portion of the redevelopment district and such infrastructure is necessary for the implementation of the redevelopment plan as determined by the city.
(2) Redevelopment project costs shall not include: (A) Costs incurred in connection with the construction of buildings or other structures to be owned by or leased to a developer, however, the "redevelopment project costs" shall include costs incurred in connection with the construction of buildings or other structures to be owned or leased to a developer which includes an auto race track facility or a multilevel parking facility.
(B) In addition, for a redevelopment project financed with special obligation bonds payable from the revenues described in K.S.A. 12-1774(a)(1)(D), and amendments thereto, redevelopment project costs shall not include:
(i) Fees and commissions paid to developers, real estate agents, financial advisors or any other consultants who represent the developers or any other businesses considering locating in or located in a redevelopment district;
(ii) salaries for local government employees;
(iii) moving expenses for employees of the businesses locating within the redevelopment district;
(iv) property taxes for businesses that locate in the redevelopment district;
(v) lobbying costs;
(vi) a bond origination fee charged by the city pursuant to K.S.A. 12-1742, and amendments thereto;
(vii) any personal property, as defined in K.S.A. 79-102, and amendments thereto; and
(viii) travel, entertainment and hospitality.
(p) "Redevelopment district" means the specific area declared to be an eligible area in which the city may develop one or more redevelopment projects.
(q) "Redevelopment district plan" or "district plan" means the preliminary plan that identifies all of the proposed redevelopment project areas and identifies in a general manner all of the buildings, facilities and improvements in each that are proposed to be constructed or improved in each redevelopment project area or, if the redevelopment district is established for an intermodal transportation area, in or outside of the redevelopment district.
(r) "Redevelopment project" means the approved project to implement a project plan for the development of the established redevelopment district.
(s) "Redevelopment project plan" means the plan adopted by a municipality for the development of a redevelopment project or projects which conforms with K.S.A. 12-1772, and amendments thereto, in a redevelopment district.
(t) "Substantial change" means, as applicable, a change wherein the proposed plan or plans differ substantially from the intended purpose for which the district plan or project plan was approved.
(u) "Tax increment" means that amount of real property taxes collected from real property located within the redevelopment district that is in excess of the amount of real property taxes which is collected from the base year assessed valuation.
(v) "Taxing subdivision" means the county, city, unified school district and any other taxing subdivision levying real property taxes, the territory or jurisdiction of which includes any currently existing or subsequently created redevelopment district including a bioscience development district.
(w) "River walk canal facilities" means a canal and related water features which flows through a redevelopment district and facilities related or contiguous thereto, including, but not limited to pedestrian walkways and promenades, landscaping and parking facilities.
(x) "Major commercial entertainment and tourism area" may include, but not be limited to, a major multi-sport athletic complex.
(y) "Major multi-sport athletic complex" means an athletic complex that is utilized for the training of athletes, the practice of athletic teams, the playing of athletic games or the hosting of events. Such project may include playing fields, parking lots and other developments including grandstands, suites and viewing areas, concessions, souvenir facilities, catering facilities, visitor centers, signage and temporary hospitality facilities, but excluding hotels, motels, restaurants and retail facilities, not directly related to or necessary to the operation of such facility.
(z) "Bioscience" means the use of compositions, methods and organisms in cellular and molecular research, development and manufacturing processes for such diverse areas as pharmaceuticals, medical therapeutics, medical diagnostics, medical devices, medical instruments, biochemistry, microbiology, veterinary medicine, plant biology, agriculture, industrial environmental and homeland security applications of bioscience and future developments in the biosciences. Bioscience includes biotechnology and life sciences.
(aa) "Bioscience development area" means an area that:
(1) Is or shall be owned, operated, or leased by, or otherwise under the control of the Kansas bioscience authority;
(2) is or shall be used and maintained by a bioscience company; or
(3) includes a bioscience facility.
(bb) "Bioscience development district" means the specific area, created under K.S.A. 12-1771, and amendments thereto, where one or more bioscience development projects may be undertaken.
(cc) "Bioscience development project" means an approved project to implement a project plan in a bioscience development district.
(dd) "Bioscience development project plan" means the plan adopted by the authority for a bioscience development project pursuant to K.S.A. 12-1772, and amendments thereto, in a bioscience development district.
(ee) "Bioscience facility" means real property and all improvements thereof used to conduct bioscience research, including, without limitation, laboratory space, incubator space, office space and any and all facilities directly related and necessary to the operation of a bioscience facility.
(ff) "Bioscience project area" means an area designated by the authority within a bioscience development district.
(gg) "Biotechnology" means those fields focusing on technological developments in such areas as molecular biology, genetic engineering, genomics, proteomics, physiomics, nanotechnology, biodefense, biocomputing, bioinformatics and future developments associated with biotechnology.
(hh) "Board" means the board of directors of the Kansas bioscience authority.
(ii) "Life sciences" means the areas of medical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, biological sciences, zoology, botany, horticulture, ecology, toxicology, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, physiology and any future advances associated with life sciences.
(jj) "Revenue increase" means that amount of real property taxes collected from real property located within the bioscience development district that is in excess of the amount of real property taxes which is collected from the base year assessed valuation.
(kk) "Taxpayer" means a person, corporation, limited liability company, S corporation, partnership, registered limited liability partnership, foundation, association, nonprofit entity, sole proprietorship, business trust, group or other entity that is subject to the Kansas income tax act, K.S.A. 79-3201 et seq., and amendments thereto.
(ll) "Floodplain increment" means the increment determined pursuant to K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 12-1771e(b), and amendments thereto.
(mm) "100-year floodplain area" means an area of land existing in a 100-year floodplain as determined by either an engineering study of a Kansas certified engineer or by the United States federal emergency management agency.
(nn) "Major motorsports complex" means a complex in Shawnee county that is utilized for the hosting of competitions involving motor vehicles, including, but not limited to, automobiles, motorcycles or other self-propelled vehicles other than a motorized bicycle or motorized wheelchair. Such project may include racetracks, all facilities directly related and necessary to the operation of a motorsports complex, including, but not limited to, parking lots, grandstands, suites and viewing areas, concessions, souvenir facilities, catering facilities, visitor and retail centers, signage and temporary hospitality facilities, but excluding hotels, motels, restaurants and retail facilities not directly related to or necessary to the operation of such facility.
(oo) "Intermodal transportation area" means an area of not less than 800 acres to be developed primarily to handle the transfer, storage and distribution of freight through railway and trucking operations.
(pp) "Museum facility" means a separate newly-constructed museum building and facilities directly related and necessary to the operation thereof, including gift shops and restaurant facilities, but excluding hotels, motels, restaurants and retail facilities not directly related to or necessary to the operation of such facility. The museum facility shall be owned by the state, a city, county, other political subdivision of the state or a non-profit corporation, shall be managed by the state, a city, county, other political subdivision of the state or a non-profit corporation and may not be leased to any developer and shall not be located within any retail or commercial building.
History: L. 1999, ch. 83, § 1; L. 2001, ch. 103, § 2; L. 2003, ch. 97, § 1; L. 2003, ch. 154, § 3; L. 2004, ch. 112, § 25; L. 2004, ch. 173, § 5; L. 2005, ch. 132, § 1; L. 2005, ch. 186, § 7; L. 2007, ch. 179, § 22; L. 2014, ch. 119, § 2; L. 2015, ch. 4, § 25; L. 2016, ch. 89, § 1; L. 2017, ch. 95, § 56; July 1.
Revisor's Note:
Section was also amended by L. 2005, ch. 53, § 1, but that version was repealed by L. 2005, ch. 186, § 23.

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