As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall
have the meaning set forth below:
BOROUGH COUNCIL
The Council of the Borough of Canonsburg, Washington County,
Pennsylvania.
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AREA
Those areas within the Borough of Canonsburg the boundaries
of which have been fixed by the Borough Council to include all zoning
areas designated at I-1, C-1, C-2 and C-3 plus any other business
or industrial use approved by the Council of the Borough of Canonsburg
in any other zoning district, in which improvements to deteriorated
property are eligible for tax exemptions.
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT PROPERTY
Any industrial, commercial or other business property owned
by an individual, association or corporation, and located in an economic
investment area, or any such property which has been the subject of
an order by a government agency requiring the unit to vacated, condemned
or demolished by reason or noncompliance which laws, ordinance or
regulations.
IMPROVEMENT
Repair, construction or reconstruction, including alterations
and additions, having the effect of rehabilitating a deteriorated
property so that it becomes habitable or attains higher standards
of safety, health, economic use or amenity, or is brought into compliance
with laws, ordinances or regulations governing such standards. Ordinary
upkeep and maintenance shall not be deemed an improvement.
LOCAL TAXING AUTHORITY
The Borough of Canonsburg, the County of Washington, the
school districts, or any governmental entity having the authority
to levy real property taxes within Washington County.
The Council of the Borough of Canonsburg, in the future, by
resolution, may designate other economic investment area to encompass
business properties eligible for tax exemption for economic investment
(under this article or any extension of it) when it finds that said
area meets the criteria of underdeveloped land, deterioration, vacated,
condemned or in need of rehabilitation or other conditions within
the spirit of this article.
No amendment to this article shall be effective unless consented
to by resolution or ordinance of each local taxing authority which
has consented to be bound by the terms of this article.
Unless sooner repealed by the Borough Council of the Borough
of Canonsburg, Washington County, this article shall expire and terminate
four years following the effective date hereof; provided, however,
that the Borough of Canonsburg may extend the provisions of this article
from year to year thereafter by resolution of the Borough Council
at the same time the Borough Council passes its annual budget; providing,
further, that any taxpayer who has received or applied for the exemption
granted by this article prior to the expiration date herein provided
shall, if said exception was granted, be entitled to the full exemption
authorized herein.