Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 66 - General municipality law.
66.1337 - Urban renewal.

66.1337 Urban renewal.
(1) Short title. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Urban Renewal Act".
(2) Findings. It is found and declared that there exists in municipalities of the state slum, blighted and deteriorated areas which constitute a serious and growing menace injurious to the public health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the state, and the findings and declarations made in s. 66.1331 are affirmed and restated. Certain slum, blighted or deteriorated areas may require acquisition and clearance, as provided in s. 66.1331, since the prevailing condition of decay may make impracticable the reclamation of the area by conservation or rehabilitation in a manner that eliminates, remedies or prevents the conditions and evils of these areas. To the extent feasible salvable slum and blighted areas should be conserved and rehabilitated through voluntary action and the regulatory process. All acts and purposes provided for by this section are for and constitute public uses and are for and constitute public purposes. Moneys expended under this section are for public purposes and to preserve the public interest, safety, health, morals and welfare. Any municipality in carrying out the provisions of this section shall afford maximum opportunity consistent with the sound needs of the municipality as a whole to the rehabilitation or redevelopment of areas by private enterprise.
(2m) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Rehabilitation or conservation work" includes any of the following:
1. Carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or compulsory repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements.
2. Acquisition of real property and demolition, removal or rehabilitation of buildings and improvements on the property where necessary to eliminate unhealthful, unsanitary or unsafe conditions, lessen density, reduce traffic hazards, eliminate obsolete or other uses detrimental to the public welfare, to otherwise remove or prevent the spread of blight or deterioration, or to provide land for needed public facilities.
3. Installation, construction or reconstruction of streets, utilities, parks, playgrounds, and other improvements necessary for carrying out the objectives of the urban renewal project.
4. The disposition, for uses in accordance with the objectives of the urban renewal project, of any property acquired in the area of the project. The disposition shall be in the manner prescribed in this section for the disposition of property in a redevelopment project area.
(b) “Urban renewal project" includes undertakings and activities for the elimination and for the prevention of the development or spread of slums or blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating areas and may involve any work or undertaking for this purpose constituting a redevelopment project or any rehabilitation or conservation work, or any combination of the undertaking or work.
(3) Urban renewal projects. A municipality may plan and undertake urban renewal projects.
(4) Workable program.
(a)
1. The governing body of the municipality, or the public officer or public body that it designates, including a housing authority organized and created under s. 66.1201, a redevelopment authority created under s. 66.1333 or a community development authority created under s. 66.1335, may prepare a workable program for utilizing appropriate private and public resources to eliminate, and prevent the development or spread of, slums and urban blight and deterioration, to encourage needed urban rehabilitation, to provide for the redevelopment of blighted, deteriorated or slum areas, or to undertake those activities or other feasible activities that may be suitably employed to achieve these objectives. The governing body may by resolution or ordinance provide the specific means by which a workable program can be effectuated and may confer upon its officers and employees the power required to carry out a program of rehabilitation and conservation for the restoration and removal of blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating areas. If a municipality finds that there exists in the municipality dwellings or other structures that are unfit for human habitation due to dilapidation, defects that increase the hazards of fire, accidents or other calamities, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary facilities or other conditions, rendering the dwellings or other structures unsanitary, dangerous or detrimental to the health, safety or morals, or otherwise inimical to the welfare of the residents of the municipality, the municipality may enact the resolutions or ordinances that it considers appropriate and effectual in order to prevent those conditions and may require the repair, closing, demolition or removal of the dwellings or other structures.
2. In this subsection:
a. “Dwelling" means any building, structure or part of the building or structure that is used and occupied for human habitation or intended to be so used and includes any appurtenances belonging to it or usually enjoyed with it.
b. “Structure" includes fences, garages, sheds, and any type of store or commercial, industrial or manufacturing building.
3. The ordinances or resolutions under subd. 1. shall require that, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of the ordinances or resolutions, notice of the alleged violation shall be given to the alleged responsible person by appropriately designated public officers or employees of the municipality. Every such notice shall be in writing; include a description of the real estate sufficient for identification; include a statement of the reason for issuance; specify a time for the performance of any act that the notice requires; and be served upon the alleged responsible person. The notice of violation is properly served on the person if a copy of it is delivered to the person personally; is left at the person's usual place of abode, in the presence of someone in the family of suitable age and discretion who shall be informed of the contents of the notice; is sent by registered mail or by certified mail with return receipt requested to the person's last-known address; or, if the registered or certified letter with the copy of the notice is returned showing the letter has not been delivered to the person, by posting a copy of the notice in a conspicuous place in or about the dwelling or other structure affected by the notice.
4. A person affected by a notice under subd. 3. may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before a board or commission established by the governing body of the municipality or before a local health officer. The person shall file in the office of the designated board or commission or the local health officer a written petition requesting the hearing and setting forth a statement of the grounds for it within 20 days after the day the notice was served. Within 10 days after receipt of the petition, the designated board or commission or the local health officer shall set a time and place for the hearing and shall give the petitioner written notice of it. At the hearing the petitioner may be heard and show cause why the notice should be modified or withdrawn. The hearing before the designated board or commission or the local health officer shall be commenced not later than 30 days after the date on which the petition was filed. Upon written application of the petitioner to the designated board or commission or the local health officer, the date of the hearing may be postponed for a reasonable time beyond the 30-day period, if, in the judgment of the board, commission or local health officer, the petitioner has submitted a good and sufficient reason for a postponement. Any notice served under this section becomes an order if a written petition for a hearing is not filed in the office of the designated board or commission or the local health officer within 20 days after the notice is served. The designated board or commission or the local health officer may administer oaths and affirmations.
5. After the hearing the designated board or commission or the local health officer shall sustain, modify or cancel the notice given under subd. 3., depending upon its findings as to whether the provisions of the resolutions or ordinances have been complied with. The designated board or commission or the local health officer may modify any notice to authorize a variance from the provisions of the resolutions or ordinances when, because of special conditions, enforcement of the provisions of the resolutions or ordinances will result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, if the intent of the resolutions or ordinances will be observed and public health and welfare secured. If the designated board or commission or the local health officer sustains or modifies the notice, the sustained or modified notice is an order, and the persons affected by the order shall comply with all provisions of the order within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the board, commission or local health officer. The proceedings at the hearing, including the findings and decisions of the board, commission or local health officer, shall be reduced to writing and entered as a matter of public record in the office of the board, commission or local health officer. The record shall also include a copy of every notice or order issued in connection with the matter. A copy of the written decision of the board, commission or local health officer shall be served, in the same manner prescribed for service of notice under subd. 3., on the person who filed the petition for hearing.
6. If the local health officer finds that an emergency exists that requires immediate action to protect the public health, the local health officer may, without notice or hearing, issue an order reciting the existence of the emergency and requiring that action be taken that the local health officer determines is necessary to meet the emergency. This order is effective immediately. Any person to whom the order is directed shall comply with it, but shall be afforded a hearing as specified in this subsection if the person immediately files a written petition with the local health officer requesting the hearing. After the hearing, depending upon the findings of the local health officer as to whether an emergency still exists that requires immediate action to protect the public health, the local health officer shall continue the order in effect or modify or revoke it.
(b) A person aggrieved by the determination of a board, commission or local health officer, following review of an order issued under this subsection, may appeal directly to the circuit court of the county in which the dwelling or other structure is located by filing a petition for review with the clerk of the circuit court within 30 days after a copy of the order of the board, commission or local health officer has been served upon the person. The petition shall state the substance of the order appealed from and the grounds upon which the person believes the order to be improper. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the board, commission or local health officer whose determination is appealed. The copy shall be served personally or by registered or certified mail within the 30-day period provided in this paragraph. A reply or answer shall be filed by the board, commission or local health officer within 15 days after the receipt of the petition. A copy of the written proceedings of the hearing held by the board, commission or local health officer which led to service of the order being appealed shall be included with the reply or answer when filed. If it appears to the court that the petition is filed for purposes of delay, the court shall, upon application of the municipality, promptly dismiss the petition. Either party to the proceedings may petition the court for an immediate hearing on the order. The court shall review the order and the copy of written proceedings of the hearing conducted by the board, commission or local health officer, shall take testimony that the court determines is appropriate, and, following a hearing upon the order without a jury, shall make its determination. If the court affirms the determination made by the board, commission or local health officer, the court shall fix a time within which the order appealed from becomes operative.
(5) General powers conferred upon municipalities. The governing body of a municipality has all powers necessary and incidental to effect a program of urban renewal, including functions with respect to rehabilitation and conservation for the restoration and removal of blighted, deteriorated or deteriorating areas, and the local governing body may adopt resolutions or ordinances for the purpose of carrying out that program and the objectives and purposes of this section. In connection with the planning, undertaking and financing of the urban renewal program or projects, the governing body of any municipality and all public officers, agencies and bodies have all the rights, powers, privileges and immunities which they have with respect to a redevelopment project under s. 66.1331.
(6) Assistance to urban renewal by municipalities and other public bodies. A public body may enter into agreements, which may extend over any period notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary, with any other public body respecting action to be taken pursuant to any of the powers granted by this section, including the furnishing of funds or other assistance in connection with an urban renewal plan or urban renewal project.
(7) Powers granted to be supplemental and not in derogation.
(a) Nothing in this section may be construed to abrogate or impair the powers of the courts or of any department of any municipality to enforce any provisions of its charter, ordinances or regulations, nor to prevent or punish violations of its charter, ordinances or regulations.
(b) Nothing in this section may be construed to impair or limit the power of the municipality to define and declare nuisances and to cause their removal or abatement, by summary proceedings or otherwise.
(c) The powers conferred by this section are in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law. This section shall be construed liberally to effectuate its purposes and its enumeration of specific powers does not restrict the meaning of any general grant of power contained in this section or exclude other powers comprehended in the general grant.
History: 1975 c. 311; 1977 c. 187; 1979 c. 89; 1983 a. 219; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 27; 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 35; 1999 a. 150 s. 452; Stats. 1999 s. 66.1337.

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