Chapter 6.20
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND REVITALIZATION

Sections:

6.20.010    Purpose and legislative intent.

6.20.020    Incentives.

6.20.030    Designated target areas.

6.20.040    Initial and subsequent target areas.

6.20.050    Administrative procedures and actions.

6.20.010 Purpose and legislative intent.

A. The city of South Lake Tahoe has adopted, or will adopt, community plans for the Stateline/Ski Run, Bijou/Al Tahoe, and South Y areas of the city.

B. The purpose of these plans is to provide a common vision for the community plan areas which include strategies and incentives for rehabilitation, restoration, and upgrading of public and private infrastructure in the community plan areas which is beneficial to both the environment and the economy.

C. In order to encourage and facilitate community plan implementation the city council desires to establish a commercial investment zone program within the city. The purpose of the program is to provide a clear focus and specific resources for implementation of the adopted community plans. It is intended to benefit the community as a whole through enhanced economic activity and increased levels of environmental restoration and enhancement within the community plan areas which would not occur without the commercial investment zone program.

D. This chapter is intended to establish the authority and guidelines for a commercial investment zone program. The project specific measures will be taken by contract, memorandum of understanding, or resolution as may be appropriate. Such measures shall be directed to specific target areas as more fully outlined below. (Ord. 877, 1996. Code 1997 § 8A-1)

6.20.020 Incentives.

The following incentives shall be made available by contract to property owners and/or tenants desiring to upgrade, rehabilitate, redevelop, or enhance real property within a target area in a manner consistent with the adopted community plan:

A. Permit prioritization, tracking, and one-stop service;

B. Fee deferrals and/or reductions;

C. Assignment of a city staff member as project advocate/coordinator who will have responsibility for timely project review and completion;

D. Allocation of commercial floor area and land coverage allowances;

E. Community development block grants and/or revolving loan funds;

F. Community reinvestment act assistance from local financial institutions;

G. Locally generated revolving loan funds; and

H. Such other measures as the city council may, by contract or otherwise, approve. (Ord. 877, 1996. Code 1997 § 8A-2)

6.20.030 Designated target areas.

The following standards are hereby established for the creation of designated target areas and the provision of incentives to projects within those target areas:

A. The project must be consistent with the adopted community plan;

B. The project must improve the exterior appearance of real property visible from Highway 50 in a manner consistent with city codes and policies;

C. All funding sources to complete the project must be in place at time of commencement and/or granting of incentives;

D. The project must start construction within the construction season during which the incentives are awarded and be completed within the time specified in the contract;

E. If the project is to receive community block grant funds it must result in the creation or retention of permanent jobs; and

F. All contracts, memorandums of understanding, or resolutions involving financing shall be recorded and shall constitute a lien on the real property until all loans have been repaid and the project completed. (Ord. 877, 1996. Code 1997 § 8A-3)

6.20.040 Initial and subsequent target areas.

A. For purposes of commencing the economic incentive zone program the city council does hereby designate the Harrison Avenue area of the Bijou/Al Tahoe community plan as the initial target area.

B. Subsequent target areas may be approved by minute order upon a duly adopted motion of the city council. (Ord. 877, 1996. Code 1997 § 8A-4)

6.20.050 Administrative procedures and actions.

A. The city manager or his/her designee is hereby authorized to establish administrative procedures and actions for the processing of applications for the creation of commercial incentive zones, designated target areas. These shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, criteria to be applied for review and the number and type of projects to be undertaken. Allowances of incentives and specific project approvals, however, shall be made by the city council based upon a competitive process and a finding that the selected proposal will most effectively implement the purpose and legislative intent of this chapter.

B. Other governmental agencies having jurisdiction within the city, including but not limited to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Board, the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, and the South Tahoe Public Utility District are hereby requested and encouraged to assist in the creation of commercial investment zones and designated target areas by offering incentives similar to or greater than those contained in this chapter for purposes of recognizing their involvement in the creation of the adopted community plans. (Ord. 877, 1996. Code 1997 § 8A-5)