Urban renewal changes proposed

Hoping to end years of debate and complaints about Idaho’s urban renewal statutes, an interim panel is finalizing a reform bill to present to lawmakers for approval this session, reports Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence. The Urban Renewal Interim Committee spent months investigating urban renewal practices in Idaho, took comments from various stakeholders, and reviewed how the tool is used to promote economic development or clean up blighted areas in different communities. Spence reports that after a meeting that went well into the evening last night, the resulting draft legislation proposes three main changes to the existing statutes/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. Interim panel recommendations here.