West Virginia Code
Article 18. Slum Clearance
§16-18-6. Preparation and Approval of Redevelopment Plans

(a) An authority shall not acquire real property for a redevelopment project unless the governing body of the community in which the redevelopment project area is located has approved the redevelopment plans, as prescribed in subsection (i) below.
(b) An authority shall not prepare a redevelopment plan for a redevelopment project area unless the governing body of the community in which such area is located has, by resolution, declared such area to be a slum or blighted area in need of redevelopment.
(c) An authority shall not recommend a redevelopment plan to the governing body of the community in which the redevelopment project area is located until a general plan for the development of the community has been prepared.
(d) The authority may itself prepare or cause to be prepared a redevelopment plan or any person or agency, public or private, may submit such a plan to an authority. A redevelopment plan shall be sufficiently complete to indicate its relationship to definite local objectives as to appropriate land uses, improved traffic, public transportation, public utilities, recreational and community facilities and other public improvements and the proposed land uses and building requirements in the redevelopment project area, and shall include without being limited to:
(1) The boundaries of the redevelopment project area, with a map showing the existing uses and conditions of the real property therein;
(2) A land use plan showing proposed uses of the area;
(3) Information showing the standards of population densities, land coverage and building intensities in the area after redevelopment;
(4) A statement of the proposed changes, if any, in zoning ordinances or maps, street layouts, street levels or grades, building codes and ordinances;
(5) A site plan of the area; and
(6) A statement as to the kind and number of additional public facilities or utilities which will be required to support the new land uses in the area after redevelopment.
(e) Prior to recommending a redevelopment plan to the governing body for approval, an authority shall submit such plan to the planning commission of the community in which the redevelopment project area is located for review and recommendations as to its conformity with the general plan for the development of the community as a whole. The planning commission shall submit its written recommendations with respect to the proposed redevelopment plan to the authority within thirty days after receipt of the plan for review. Upon receipt of the recommendations of the planning commission or, if no recommendations are received within said thirty days, then without such recommendations, an authority may recommend the redevelopment plan to the governing body of the community for approval.
(f) Prior to recommending a redevelopment plan to the governing body for approval, an authority shall consider whether the proposed land uses and building requirements in the redevelopment project area are designed with the general purpose of accomplishing, in conformance with the general plan, a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the community and its environs which will, in accordance with present and future needs, promote health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and the general welfare, as well as efficiency and economy in the process of development; including, among other things, adequate provision for traffic, vehicular parking, the promotion of safety from fire, panic and other dangers, adequate provision for light and air, the promotion of the healthful and convenient distribution of population, the provision of adequate transportation, water, sewerage and other public utilities, schools, parks, recreational and community facilities and other public requirements, the promotion of sound design and arrangement, the wise and efficient expenditure of public funds, the prevention of the recurrence of insanitary or unsafe dwelling accommodations, slums, or conditions of blight, and the provision of adequate, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations.
(g) The recommendation of a redevelopment plan by an authority to the governing body shall be accompanied by the recommendations, if any, of the planning commission concerning the redevelopment plan; a statement of the proposed method and estimated cost of the acquisition and preparation for redevelopment of the redevelopment project area and the estimated proceeds or revenues from its disposal to redevelopers; a statement of the proposed method of financing the redevelopment project; and a statement of a feasible method proposed for the relocation of families to be displaced from the redevelopment project area.
(h) The governing body of the community shall hold a public hearing on any redevelopment plan or substantial modification thereof recommended by the authority, after public notice thereof by publication as a Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be the community. Public notice shall also include notice by certified letter, return receipt requested to each property owner of record of all affected properties of the proposed project. The notice shall include:
(1) Notice of the public hearing time, date and location;
(2) The right to have an inspection by the municipal authority to determine if the property is blighted or unblighted;
(3) The inspection procedures; and
(4) The rights the property owner has pursuant to section six-a of this article relating to unblighted properties in blighted or slum areas.
The last publication shall be at least ten days prior to the date set for the hearing. The notice shall describe the time, date, place and purpose of the hearing and shall also generally identify the area to be redeveloped under the plan. All interested parties shall be afforded at such public hearing a reasonable opportunity to express their views respecting the proposed redevelopment plan. The municipal authority shall consider reasonable alternatives for the redevelopment project that will minimize the use of eminent domain against any properties that are not blighted.
(i) Following such hearing, the governing body may approve a redevelopment plan if it finds that said plan is feasible and in conformity with the general plan for the development of the community as a whole: Provided, That if the redevelopment project area is a blighted area, the governing body must also find that a shortage of housing of sound standards and designs, adequate for family life, exists in the community; the need for housing accommodations has been or will be increased as a result of the clearance of slums in other areas under redevelopment; the conditions of blight in the redevelopment project area and the shortage of decent, safe and sanitary housing cause or contribute to an increase in and spread of disease and crime and constitute a menace to the public health, safety, morals or welfare; and that the development of the blighted area for predominantly residential uses is an integral part of and essential to the program of the community for the elimination of slum areas. A redevelopment plan which has not been approved by the governing body when recommended by the authority may again be recommended to it with any modifications deemed advisable.
(j) A redevelopment plan may be modified at any time by the authority: Provided, That if modified after the lease or sale of real property in the redevelopment project area, the modification must be consented to by the redeveloper or redevelopers of such real property or his successor, or their successors in interest affected by the proposed modification. Where the proposed modification will substantially change the redevelopment plan as previously approved by the governing body the modification must similarly be approved by the governing body.