Illinois Statutes Chapter 315. Urban Problems § 25/3. Definitions

(a) “Municipality” shall mean a city, village or incorporated town.

(b) “Governing body” shall mean the council or the President and board of Trustees of any city, village or incorporated town, as the case may be.

(c) “Presiding officer” shall mean the Mayor or President of a city, village or incorporated town.

(d) “Conservation Area” in municipalities with a population of over 500,000 shall mean an area of not less than 40 acres, and in other municipalities shall mean an area of not less than 2 acres in which the structures in 50% or more of the area are residential having an average age of 35 years or more. Such an area by reason of dilapidation, obsolescence, deterioration or illegal use of individual structures, overcrowding of structures and community facilities, conversion of residential units into non-residential use, deleterious land use or layout, decline of physical maintenance, lack of community planning, or any combination of these factors may become a slum and blighted area.

(e) “Conservation Plan” shall mean the comprehensive program for the physical development and replanning of a “Conservation Area” embodying the steps required to prevent such “Conservation Area” from becoming a slum and blighted area.

(f) “Real Property” shall include lands, lands underwater, structures and any and all easements, franchises and incorporeal hereditaments and estates, and rights, legal and equitable, including terms for years and liens by way of judgment, mortgage or otherwise.

(g) “Fair Use Value” shall mean the fair cash market value of real property when employed for the use contemplated by the community conservation plan.

(h) “Community facilities” shall mean those physical plants which implement, support and facilitate the activities, services and interests of education, recreation, shopping, health, welfare, religion and general culture.