Certain municipalities may use an alternate approval process for an urban renewal project, but the governing body must order and hold an election and the project cannot exceed the approved limits.
Sec. 374.012. ALTERNATE APPROVAL PROCESS FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS. (a) A municipality that did not approve the exercise of urban renewal powers under Section 374.011 before April 27, 1973, may approve the exercise of those powers for a specific urban renewal project in the alternative manner provided by this section. (b) The governing body of the municipality must order and hold an election in the manner provided by Section 374.011. (c) The resolution ordering the election and the notice of the election must contain: (1) a complete legal description of the area included in the proposed project; (2) a statement of the nature of the proposed project; and (3) a statement of the total amount of local funds to be spent on the proposed project. (d) The ballot proposition at the election need not contain a complete legal description of the area included in the project, but the proposition must contain a general description of the area that is sufficient to give notice to the voters of the location of the proposed project. The proposition must also contain a statement of the nature of the proposed project and the total amount of local funds to be spent on the project. (e) If the ballot proposition is approved, the municipality may not exceed the limitations imposed on the project in the resolution ordering the election with respect to the area, nature, or amount of local funds spent on the project. If the municipality desires to expand the project beyond those limitations, the proposed expansion must be approved at an election in the manner provided for the original project. (f) Voter approval is not required for preliminary planning of an urban renewal project. (g) This section does not require further elections, resolutions, or actions of a municipality that has exercised urban renewal powers under this chapter as of April 27, 1973. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.