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2001 SESSION

011458756
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 671
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled January 10, 2001
Establishing the Commission on Growth and Economic Development.
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Patrons-- Hall, Amundson, Baskerville, Blevins, Bryant, Councill, Diamonstein, Dillard, Hull, Ingram, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Jones, S.C., Marshall, McQuigg, Spruill, Stump, Suit and Williams; Senator: Lambert
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Commonwealth's healthy and productive economy has resulted in rapid growth in many areas of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, growth has helped fuel the creation of jobs and wealth in such areas; and

WHEREAS, rapid growth also impacts many other issues such as housing availability, transportation, education, public utilities, public safety, human services, and loss of agricultural resources and open space; and

WHEREAS, patterns of business and residential development have changed over time and will undoubtedly continue to change in this age of rapid technological advancements; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth and its localities must use its existing tools to develop new strategies to promote sensible growth, reduce congestion, preserve open space, provide infrastructure in a timely manner as needed, and assure Virginians the ability to work, live, and play in a healthy environment; and

WHEREAS, the complexity of the many issues related to the Commonwealth's growth and economic development can not be adequately addressed in a piecemeal legislative fashion, but rather demand a comprehensive, deliberate approach involving both state and local elected officials; and

WHEREAS, such a comprehensive, deliberate approach may also benefit from the use of professional facilitation as a method to resolve issues arising from growth and economic development; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a commission be established to study growth and economic development. The Commission shall consist of 14 members, which shall include 10 legislative members and four nonlegislative members as follows: six members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; four members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; three citizen members who are members of local governing bodies to be appointed by the Speaker; and one citizens member who is a member of a local governing body to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. The Virginia Association of Counties, Virginia Municipal League and Virginia Chamber of Commerce may make recommendations to the Speaker of the House and the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections for citizen appointments.

In conducting its study, the commission shall encourage the participation of all interested groups, organizations and individuals, including those associated with business interests, the development community, and environmental causes. In examining issues related to growth and economic development, the commission shall exclusively examine:

1. The adequacy of current revenue resources to meet existing and future infrastructure needs. During the course of this examination, the commission should consider the recommendations of the Commission on Virginia's State and Local Tax Structure for the 21st Century;

2. The revitalization of inner-city areas and older suburbs in order to make more efficient use of existing infrastructure and improve the quality of life for many Virginians;

3. The development of abandoned or unused sites (brownfields) in order to enhance the economic vitality of communities in which they are located;

4. The appropriate means of preserving both open space and individual property rights as well as broad-based funding mechanism for accomplishing preservation goals; and

5. Current inefficient permitting processes surrounding most land use decisions to the end of determining steps for creating more balance and certainty for landowners engaged in economic development activities.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $25,000.

The Department of Housing and Community Development shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the commission, upon request. The Commission may also utilize the services of a professional facilitation service during the course of its work.

The commission shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2002 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.