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Blight Identified in Redevelopment Plan
It is interesting to read the following description of blight and then compare it to what has really been the history and actual conditions of the Original and Amended Project Area.
Redevelopment Agency Five-Year Implementation Plan
3.3.1 Initial Conditions of Blight
When the Project Area was established in 1983 and amended in 1990, the Agency identified conditions of blight. Although adoption of AB 1290 substantially changed the definition of blight, the Agency’s Project Area was adopted prior to AB 1290 and thus the previous definition is applicable to the Project Area and the Implementation Plan. As conclusively determined at the time of approval of the original Project Area, and when amended with respect to the Town Center portion, a number of blighted conditions were identified. The following conditions of blight were found to exist in the Project Area:
• Unsafe Buildings
Several buildings, both commercial and residential, did not meet public safety codes, due to lack of fire sprinkling and other obsolete and unsafe construction methods. In addition, areas existed within or immediately adjacent to the project area that had poorly maintained buildings, necessitating a large amount of code enforcement action.
• Obsolete Buildings and Vacant Lots
Small lots, some of irregular shape typically characterized the Town Center portion of the Project Area, with a number of non-conforming uses. Many of the vacant lots were too small to meet zoning code regulations, including minimum lot size and setback requirements. In addition, it was determined that several of the vacant lots were difficult to develop due to topographical restrictions and lack of adequate infrastructure. The supply of obsolete and vacant buildings may have been the result of required maintenance of old buildings, lack of adequate parking, and br the economic recession at that time.
• Lack of Parking
The majority of businesses in the Town Center portion of the Project Area did not have adequate on-site or off-site parking. Many of the businesses on Main Street believed that the lack of parking in the area caused their businesses to suffer, and deterred shoppers from visiting the historic Main Street commercial district. In addition, the Yorba Linda Public Library, as well as nearby residential units, had insufficient parking, which created an overflow of parking onto local streets.
• Overcrowding and Crime Rates
There existed a few high-density residential developments immediately adjacent to the Town Center boundaries, which suffered from severe overcrowding. Two apartment projects in particular, located on Plumosa Avenue, saw a direct increase in the crime rate of the area due to overcrowding and poor management of the units. This area generated approximately 70% of the total request for police service in the entire City.
• Inadequate Public Improvements
There were infrastructure deficiencies identified in the City’s Capital Improvement
Program. Agency funds may be used to address these deficiencies if the Agency and
City Council, with respect to specific expenditures, make the finding required by the
Community Redevelopment Law. Those improvements that were identified included the
need for street reconstruction, storm drain, and sewer improvements, underground utility projects, parks and recreation facilities, and public parking improvements.
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