SB 228 - This act authorizes a person or organization to apply to an incorporated municipality to develop an urban agricultural zone (UAZ) on a blighted area of land. The application must identify whether the UAZ will be a grower, processing, or vending UAZ, or a combination of all three types, as well as the number of jobs to be created, and the types of products to be produced. Approval of the UAZ by the municipality shall be reviewed five and ten years after the development of the UAZ. After twenty-five years, the UAZ shall dissolve. A municipality may dissolve the UAZ at any time if the UAZ is not meeting its requirements. Upon establishment, the portion of the real property of the UAZ that is used as the UAZ shall not be subject to assessment or payment of ad valorem taxes on real property imposed by the city or state for a period of ten years at which time the property shall be reassessed. The UAZ shall then pay fifty percent of the assessed value for the next fifteen years.
If water services are provided by the municipality, a grower UAZ is required to pay wholesale water rates for the cost of water consumed on the UAZ. Such UAZ shall pay fifty percent of the standard cost to hook the water source.
Any sales tax revenues received from the sale of products sold in the UAZ, excluding revenues for certain dedicated purposes, shall be deposited in the newly created Urban Agricultural Zone Fund. Money in the fund shall be used for the development of curriculum on, or the implementation of, urban farming practices. The funds are to be distributed within the school district in which the UAZ is located.
The provisions of this act shall supercede any local ordinances to the contrary.
This act is similar to the truly agreed and finally passed SS/SCS/HB 542 (2013) and HB 902 (2013).
KAYLA CRIDER