(a) Whenever the board finds that property adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, one or more rail transit stations, or proposed rail transit stations, of the VTA receives or will receive special benefit by reason of the location or operation of one or more of those rail transit stations, the board may, by resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of its members, provide for notice and hearing on its intention to establish one or more special benefit districts and levy a special benefit assessment on real property therein for the purpose of financing, in whole or in part, the acquisition, construction, development, joint development, operation, maintenance, or repair of one or more rail transit stations and rail transit related facilities located within the benefit district.
(b) In connection with the levy of a special benefit assessment, the board shall comply with the notice, protest, and hearing procedures set forth in Section 53753 of the Government Code.
(c) The resolution may provide that the proposed benefit district will contain separate zones, which may consist of either contiguous or noncontiguous areas of land within the boundaries of the VTA. The proposed benefit district and each proposed zone, if any, therein shall be an area adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, one or more rail transit stations or proposed rail transit stations. The boundaries of the benefit district and of each zone, if any, therein shall be drawn so as to reflect, as accurately as possible, the areas in which special benefits are conferred by reason of the proximity and operation of one or more rail transit stations.
(d) A notice stating the time and place of the hearing, and setting forth the boundaries and purpose of the proposed benefit district, shall be published prior to the time fixed for the hearing pursuant to Section 6066 of the Government Code.
(e) For purposes of this chapter, “benefit district” means a special benefit assessment district established pursuant to this chapter, the area of which shall not lie more than one-half mile from the center point of any rail transit station or proposed rail transit station.
(f) For purposes of this chapter, “transit related facilities” means land, buildings, and equipment, or any interest therein, whether or not the operation thereof produces revenue, which has, as its primary purpose, the operation of the rail transit system or the providing of services to the passengers of the rail transit system, but does not mean any land, buildings, or equipment, or interest therein, which is used primarily for the production of revenue not arising from the operation of the rail transit system.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 381, Sec. 108. (AB 2196) Effective January 1, 2017.)