Delaware § 501 - Findings and declaration of policy.

§ 501. Findings and declaration of policy.

It is determined and declared as a matter of legislative finding that:

(1) Residential decentralization in incorporated cities has been accompanied by an ever increasing trend in the number of persons entering the business sections by private automobile as compared with other modes of transportation;

(2) The free circulation of traffic of all kinds through the streets of cities is necessary to the health, safety and general welfare of the public whether residing in the city or traveling to, through or from the city in the course of lawful pursuits;

(3) The greatly increased use by the public of motor vehicles of all kinds has caused serious traffic congestion on the streets of cities;

(4) The parking of motor vehicles on the streets has contributed to this congestion to such an extent as to interfere seriously with the primary use of such streets for the movement of traffic;

(5) Such parking prevents the free circulation of traffic in, through and from the city, impedes rapid and effective fighting of fires and the disposition of police forces in the district and endangers the health, safety and welfare of the general public;

(6) Such parking threatens irreparable loss in valuations of property in the city which can no longer be readily reached by vehicular traffic;

(7) This parking crisis, which threatens the welfare of the community, can be reduced by providing sufficient off-street parking facilities properly located in the several residential, commercial and industrial areas of the city;

(8) The establishment of a parking authority will promote the public safety, convenience and welfare;

(9) The utilization of street level space for parking garages within a city’s central business district reduces the available space for retail and other commercial uses, thereby interfering with the growth and development of the central business district;

(10) It is intended that the parking authority cooperate with all existing and future public and private parking facilities so that private enterprise and government may mutually provide adequate parking services for the convenience of the public;

therefore it is declared to be the policy of this State to promote the safety and welfare of the inhabitants thereof by the creation in incorporated cities of bodies corporate and politic to be known as “parking authorities” which shall exist and operate for the purposes contained in this chapter. Such purposes are declared to be public uses for which public money may be spent and private property may be acquired by the exercise of the power of eminent domain.

48 Del. Laws, c. 369, §  2;  22 Del. C. 1953, §  501;  73 Del. Laws, c. 377, §  1;  80 Del. Laws, c. 324, § 1;