Alaska Stat. § 18.55.530 – Preparation and approval of redevelopment plans

(a) Except as provided in AS 18.55.520(11), the corporation may not acquire real property for a redevelopment project unless the governing body of the municipality has approved the redevelopment plan, as prescribed in (i) of this section.
(b) The corporation may not prepare a redevelopment plan for a redevelopment project area unless the governing body of the municipality has, by resolution, declared the area to be a slum or blighted area in need of redevelopment.
(c) The corporation may not recommend a redevelopment plan to the governing body of the municipality until a general plan for the physical development of the municipality has been prepared.
(d) The corporation may prepare or have prepared a redevelopment plan or any person or agency, public or private, may submit a redevelopment plan to the corporation. A redevelopment plan must 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 must include
1. (1) the boundaries of the redevelopment project area, with a map showing the existing uses and conditions of the real property within those boundaries;
2. (2) a land use plan showing proposed uses of the area;
3. (3) information showing the standards of population densities, land coverage, and building intensities in the area after redevelopment;
4. (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. (5) a site plan of the area; and
6. (6) a statement as to the kind and number of additional public facilities or utilities that will be required to support the new land uses in the area after redevelopment.
(e) Before recommending a redevelopment plan to the governing body for approval, the corporation shall submit the plan to the planning commission, if any, of the area in which the redevelopment project area is located for review and recommendations as to its conformity with the general plan for the physical development of the area. The planning commission shall submit its written recommendations with respect to the proposed redevelopment plan to the corporation within 30 days after receipt of the plan for review. Upon receipt of the recommendations of the planning commission or, if recommendations are not received within 30 days, then without the recommendations, the corporation may recommend the redevelopment plan to the governing body of the municipality for approval.
(f) Before recommending a redevelopment plan to the governing body for approval, the corporation 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 municipality and its environs that 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 and, 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 unsanitary 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 the corporation to the governing body shall be accompanied by
1. (1) the recommendations, if any, of the planning commission concerning the redevelopment plan;
2. (2) 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;
3. (3) a statement of the proposed method of financing the redevelopment project; and
4. (4) a statement of a feasible method proposed for the relocation of families to be displaced from the redevelopment project area.
(h) The governing body shall hold a public hearing on the redevelopment plan or substantial modification of the redevelopment plan recommended by the corporation, after public notice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality once each week for two consecutive weeks, the last publication to be at least 10 days before the date set for hearing, or, if there is no newspaper of general circulation, by posting the notice in three public places in the municipality at least 10 days before the date set for hearing. The notice must describe the time, place, and purpose of the hearing and must generally identify the area to be redeveloped under the plan. At the public hearing all interested parties shall be given a reasonable opportunity to express their views respecting the proposed redevelopment plan.
(i) Following the hearing required by (h) of this section, the governing body may by ordinance initially approve a redevelopment plan if it finds that the plan is feasible and conforms with the general plan for the physical development of the area. Approval of subsequent modifications of the plan that do not involve substantive changes shall be by resolution. A redevelopment plan that has not been approved by the governing body when recommended by the corporation may again be recommended to it with any modifications considered advisable.
(j) The corporation may modify a redevelopment plan at any time. However, if it is modified after the lease or sale of real property in the redevelopment project area, the redeveloper or the developer's successor in interest affected by the proposed modification must consent to the modification. If 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.
(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the local governing body certifies that an area is in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation as a result of flood, fire, hurricane, earthquake, storm, or other catastrophe respecting which the governor has certified the need for disaster assistance under federal law, the local governing body may approve an urban renewal or redevelopment plan and an urban renewal or redevelopment project with respect to the area without regard to the provisions relating to relocation, conformance of the urban renewal or redevelopment plan with the general plan, and the provisions of this chapter requiring a general plan for the municipality and a public hearing on the urban renewal or redevelopment project or plan.