Pennsylvania Act 2008-115 — ELM STREET PROGRAM ACT - PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES AND REPEALING EXPIRATION DATE OF ACT

Act text

ELM STREET PROGRAM ACT - PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES AND
                     REPEALING EXPIRATION DATE OF ACT
                 Act of Oct. 9, 2008, P.L. 1417, No. 115              Cl. 71
                             Session of 2008
                               No. 2008-115

     HB 2233

                                  AN ACT

     Amending the act of February 9, 2004 (P.L.61, No.7), entitled
        "An act providing for a residential neighborhood enhancement
        program to be administered by the Department of Community and
        Economic Development; and making an allocation of
        appropriated funds," further providing for program
        requirements and for guidelines; and repealing the expiration
        date of the act.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Section 3(c) of the act of February 9, 2004
     (P.L.61, No.7), known as the Elm Street Program Act, is amended
     and the section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
      Section 3.  Elm Street Program.
        * * *
        (c)  Program requirements.--The program shall:
            (1)  Provide basic grants for [a maximum of] a period of
        up to five years per project and, upon approval by the
        department, an additional period of up to five years for
        administrative costs associated with the hiring of a
        professional Elm Street Manager, who may serve as an
        assistant to the Main Street Manager if a Main Street Program
        exists within the municipality.
            (2)  Provide residential reinvestment grants for
        infrastructure and structural improvements, including, but
        not limited to, streets, street lights, trees, exteriors of
        buildings and sidewalks or other pedestrian-oriented
        features.
            (3)  Provide planning and development grants for:
                (i)  Marketing and promoting urban residential
            living.
                (ii)  Leveraging additional private and public
            investment.
                (iii)  Promoting home ownership and other housing
            options.
                (iv)  Addressing social and economic concerns
            including, but not limited to, crime, blight, employment
            opportunities and public services and amenities.
                (v)  Achieving consistency, whenever appropriate,
            with existing commercial and residential revitalization
            efforts.
                (vi)  Promoting the development of traditional
            neighborhood consumer services and goods, including, but
            not limited to, banking institutions, grocery stores and
            pharmacies.
            (4)  Provide an assessment of the applying municipality's
        need for the following:
                (i)  The establishment of a neighborhood improvement
            district as defined in the act of December 20, 2000
            (P.L.949, No.130), known as the Neighborhood Improvement
            District Act.
                (ii)  A review of local comprehensive plans and
            zoning and other land use ordinances to foster the
            viability of established residential neighborhoods, with
            a balanced mix of commercial, civic, employment and
            residential uses, with particular attention to a
            diversity of housing options.
                (iii)  A review of educational and recreational
            opportunities and facilities.
        * * *
        (i)  Guidelines.--The department shall adopt guidelines to
     authorize municipalities or their designees, upon the submission
     of the appropriate applications and the approval of the
     department, to reestablish an Elm Street program in a
     neighborhood where a program had been previously established.
        Section 2.  Section 6 of the act is repealed:
      [Section 6.  Expiration of act.
        This act shall expire June 30, 2011, unless it is reenacted
     prior to that date.]
        Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

     APPROVED--The 9th day of October, A. D. 2008.

     EDWARD G. RENDELL