1590                                Laws of Maryland                        [Ch. 877

174B. Scope.

It is hereby found and declared that there exist in Howard County
blighted areas, or slum conditions which require rehabilitation with
the aid and assistance of Howard County; that the existence of such
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 condi-
tions and causes numerous traffic problems due to poor street design
and layout; that the prevention and elimination of slum and blighted
areas is a matter of public policy of the State of Maryland and How-
ard County. It is further found and declared that the existence of
these conditions makes it necessary to acquire private property for
Urban Renewal development and redevelopment and such acquisition
is hereby declared to be for a public purpose.

174C. Definitions.

(a)   The following terms wherever used or referred to in this Act,
shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning is
clearly indicated by the context:

(b)    "Federal Government" shall include the United States of
America or any agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of
the United States of America.

(c)   "Slum Area" shall mean any area where dwellings predomi-
nate, which, by reason of depreciation, over-crowding, faulty ar-
rangement 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" shall mean an area in which a majority of
buildings have declined in productivity by reason of obsolescence, de-
preciation or other causes to an extent they no longer justify funda-
mental repairs and adequate maintenance.

(e)   "Urban Renewal Project" shall mean undertakings and activi-
ties of Howard County in an urban renewal area for the elimina-
tion 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 CONSERVA-
TION OR CODE ENFORCEMENT in an urban renewal area, or any
combination or part thereof in accordance with an urban renewal plan.
Such undertakings and activities may include—

(1)   acquisition of a slum or blighted area or portion thereof;

(2)  demolition and removal of buildings and improvements;

(3) installation, construction, or reconstruction of streets, utili-
ties, parks, playgrounds, and other improvements necessary for
carrying out in the urban renewal area the urban renewal objectives
of this Act in accordance with the urban renewal plan;

(4) disposition of any property acquired in the urban renewal area
(including sale, leasing or retention by the County itself) at its fair
value for uses in accordance with the urban renewal plan;

(5) carrying out plans for a program of voluntary or compulsory
repair and rehabilitation of buildings or other improvements in ac-
cordance with the urban renewal plan; and