La. R.S. § 33:4720.135 Blighted Property Removal

• Library: Louisiana Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current with changes from the 2023 Legislative Session
• Year: 2023
• Citation: La. R.S. § 33:4720.135

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, the Jefferson Parish Redevelopment Authority shall have the power to acquire by purchase, gift, bequest, expropriation, negotiation, or otherwise any blighted property as defined in this Section, either within or outside a designated community improvement area and, further, to hold, clear, manage, and dispose of said property, all in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section, which procedures shall be exclusive for the acquisition of individual blighted property by the authority.

B. For the purposes of this Section, "blighted property" shall include those commercial or residential premises, including lots which have been declared vacant, uninhabitable, and hazardous by an administrative hearing officer acting pursuant to R.S. 13:2575 et seq., or other applicable law. In determining whether any premises are vacant, uninhabitable, or hazardous, the hearing officer shall consider any or all of the following:

(1) Any premises which because of physical condition are considered hazardous to persons or property.

(2) Any premises declared to be a public nuisance.

(3) Any premises declared to be a fire hazard.

(4) Any premises declared to be vermin-infested or lacking in facilities or equipment required by the housing code of Jefferson Parish.

C. The authority shall not acquire any blighted property by expropriation unless an administrative hearing officer has held an administrative hearing on the question and has resolved such property to be blighted and has authorized the acquisition of such property by the authority or such property has been determined to be blighted by a court of competent jurisdiction.

D. The procedure for certification of blighted properties shall be as follows:

(1) Any parish entity responsible for inspecting property and enforcing health, housing, fire, historic district, and environmental codes, which may include any entity designated by the local governing authority, shall submit to the administrative hearing officer a list of those properties which are determined to be vacant, uninhabitable, and hazardous and which otherwise meet the criteria set forth in Subsection B of this Section for the determination of blight.

(2) The administrative hearing officer shall place each listed property on the administrative hearing docket and notify each property owner of the scheduled hearing by registered or certified mail at the address of the property owner as listed in the assessor's office of the parish. If the notice is returned as undeliverable or as not accepted, notice shall be given in the official journal of the parish. The notice shall include the property owner's name, the property's street address, and the date, time, and place of the hearing. The notice shall also state that the purpose of the hearing is to determine whether the property is blighted and eligible for expropriation by the authority. Notice by mail or publication shall be accomplished at least thirty days prior to the date of such hearing.