Every application for RC designation must contain a course of action describing the commitment to cooperation in the nominated area by the nominating governments and community organizations that meets the requirements of this section II.C. listed immediately below.

C. Cooperation Among the Nominating Governments and Community Organizations

Every application for RC designation must contain a course of action describing the commitment to cooperation in the nominated area by the nominating governments and community organizations that meets the requirements of this section II.C. listed immediately below.

1. Commitment to a course of action. A course of action is a written document, signed by the nominated area's State and local governments, or in the case of a nominated area located within an Indian reservation, the reservation governing body, and community-based organizations which commits each signatory to undertake and achieve measurable goals and actions within the nominated area upon its designation as a Renewal Community.

2. Community-based organizations. For purposes of the course of action, ``community-based organizations'' includes for-profit and non- profit private entities, businesses and business organizations, neighborhood organizations, and community groups. Community-based organizations are not required to be located in the nominated area as long as they commit to achieving the goals of the course of action in the Renewal Community.

3. Timetable. The course of action must include a timetable that identifies the significant steps and target dates for implementing the goals and actions.

4. Performance measures. The course of action must include a description of how the performance of the course of action will be measured and evaluated.

5. Required goals and actions. The course of action must include at least four of the following:

a. A reduction of tax rates or fees applying within the Renewal Community;

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b. An increase in the level of efficiency of local services within the Renewal Community, such as services for residents funded through the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and related Federal programs including, for example, job support services, child care and after school care for children of working residents, employment training, transportation services and other services that help residents become economically self-sufficient;

c. Crime reduction strategies, such as crime prevention, including the provision of crime prevention services by nongovernmental entities;

d. Actions to reduce, remove, simplify, or streamline governmental requirements applying within the Renewal Community, such as:

i. Density bonus. Permission to develop or redevelop real property at a higher density level than otherwise permitted under the zoning ordinance, e.g., increased height or increased number of residential or business units;

ii. Incentive zoning. Providing a density bonus or other real property-related incentive for the development, redevelopment, or preservation of a parcel in the designated area;

iii. Comprehensive or one-stop permit. Streamlining construction or other development permitting processes, rather than requiring multiple applications for multiple permits, e.g., for demolition, site preparation, and construction, the developer or redeveloper submits asingle application that is circulated for the necessary reviews by the various planning, engineering, and other departments in the county or municipality;

iv. Variance and exception policies. Counties or municipalities may pass ordinances that permit variances to or exceptions from certain zoning or other land use limitations. Examples include a reduced building set-back requirement or a reduced requirement for the provision of parking. The policy may be limited to a particular geographic area.

v. Voluntary environmental compliance program. A shared or limited environmental liability program, with limited liability from certain legal or administrative action in exchange for undertaking an approved program of environmental investigation, hazard control, and on-going risk reduction activities. Typically, the liability limitation is for future environmental cleanup (and not against lawsuit for damages). Risk of cleanup may be shared by the developer or property owner and the government;

e. Involvement in economic development activities by private entities, organizations, neighborhood organizations, and community groups, particularly those in the Renewal Community, including a commitment from such private entities to provide jobs and job training for, and technical, financial, or other assistance to, employers, employees, and residents from the Renewal Community;

f. The gift or sale at below fair market value of surplus real property held by State or local governments, such as land, homes, and commercial or industrial structures in the Renewal Community to neighborhood organizations, community development corporations, or private companies.

6. Recognition of past efforts. The course of action is not limited to future goals and actions. Past efforts within the previous eight years, either completed or on-going, of the nominating State or local governments in reducing the various burdens borne by employers and employees in the nominated area by undertaking any of the goals or actions listed in section II.C.5., above, of this notice may be used to meet the course of action requirement. If past efforts are used, the course of action must identify which of the required goals and actions listed in section II.C.5. they address; the timetable for their continued implementation, if on-going; the community-based organizations involved, if any; and an evaluation of their performance and the performance measures used.