Title 53 — Title 53 PORT DISTRICTS

It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the legislature of the state of Washington, that it is in the public interest to employ the power of eminent domain and advance and expend public moneys for the purposes herein contained, and to provide for means by which marginal …

It is further found and declared that:(1) The existence of such marginal lands characterized by any or all of such conditions constitutes a serious and growing menace which is condemned as injurious and inimical to the public health, safety, and welfare of the people of the commu…

"Marginal lands" is defined and characterized by any one or more of the following described conditions:(1) An economic dislocation, deterioration, or disuse resulting from faulty planning.(2) The subdividing and sale of lots of irregular form and shape and inadequate size for pro…

(1) A port commission may, after a public hearing thereon, of which at least ten days' notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the port district, create industrial development districts within the district and define the boundaries thereof, if it finds t…

Any lands in an industrial development district acquired by the county by tax foreclosure, may, if the county commissioners deem the lands chiefly valuable for industrial development purposes, be conveyed to the port district. The lands shall be held in trust by the port district…

With the approval of the county commissioners, any lands in an industrial development district, owned privately, which the port commission deems valuable for industrial development purposes, may be deeded to and accepted by the port district, subject to delinquent general taxes t…

With the approval of the county commissioners, a port district may free any lands acquired by it pursuant to this chapter from the trust imposed upon it herein, by paying to the county the amount of the delinquent taxes against the land at the time the county acquired it by tax f…

Ten years from the date of its acquisition, property acquired by a port district pursuant to this chapter shall revert to the county to be used the same as property acquired by tax foreclosure, and upon demand by the county commissioners the port commission shall convey the prope…

No expenditure for improvement of property in an industrial development district, other than the expense of preparing and submitting a plan of improvement shall be made by a port district, and no property shall be acquired by it therefor except as provided for hereinbefore until …

All port districts wherein industrial development districts have been established are authorized and empowered to acquire by purchase or condemnation or both, all lands, property and property rights necessary for the purpose of the development and improvement of such industrial d…

When a port commission deems it for the best interests of the district and the people thereof and in furtherance of its general plan of harbor improvement, or industrial development, or both, it may sell and convey any property or part thereof owned by it within an industrial dis…

The port commission shall give notice of the proposed sale by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, and by posting in three public places in the port district at least ten days before the date fixed for the hearing thereon.The notice shall describe the …

Within three days after the hearing the commission shall make its findings and determination on the advisability of making the sale and enter its determination in its records. Any aggrieved party may appeal the determination of the commission by filing appeal with the superior co…

If the determination is against the sale, all proceedings thereon shall terminate. If the commission determines in favor of the sale by at least a two-thirds vote of the full commission, it shall in its discretion, either enter an order fixing a period, not less than twenty nor m…

If the commission chooses to sell the property through competitive bidding under RCW 53.25.140:(1) Bids may be submitted for the property or any part of it, shall state the use which the bidder intends to make of it, and the commission may require the successful bidder to file ad…

The purchaser shall, within one year from the date of purchase, devote the property to its intended use, or shall commence work on the improvements thereon to devote it to such use, and if he or she fails to do so, the port commission may cancel the sale and return the money paid…

All sales made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall have incorporated in the instrument of conveyance of title the conditions of this chapter relating to the use of the land as a covenant running with the land. Any violation of such covenant shall result in a r…

All port districts of the state of Washington which have created or may hereafter create industrial development districts in the manner provided by law, in addition to all powers possessed by such port districts, be and are hereby granted power of eminent domain to acquire real p…

Port districts are hereby granted the power to advance their general fund moneys or credit, or both, without interest to accomplish the objects and purposes of this chapter, which fund shall be repaid from the sale or lease, or both, of such developed or redeveloped lands, provid…

The determination that property sought by eminent domain proceedings is marginal lands as herein defined is a judicial question, provided that a duly adopted resolution of the commissioners of the port district that the property sought is marginal lands as the term is herein defi…

Chapter 53.24 RCW and chapter 53.28 RCW and chapter 45, Laws of 1939, as last amended by section 1, chapter 166, Laws of 1943 are repealed: PROVIDED, That nothing herein contained shall be construed as affecting any existing right acquired under the provisions of said act.[ 1955 …