The legislation, which had already been approved by both theHouse and Senate, will return to those chambers for an overridevote before the session wraps up, likely by the end of the week.Critics of the legislation say the bill would create privateentities that have the power to seize private land.

But David Begelfer, chief executive officer of the NationalAssociation of Industrial and Office Properties, which sponsoredthe bill, tells GlobeSt.com that the legislation would actuallyspur redevelopment by allowing municipalities to makeinfrastructure improvements under a bond financing package thatwould be paid for through special assessments.

As part of the legislation, Begelfer says, at least 80% of thebusiness owners in a "special development district" would have toapprove the bond measure and agree to the assessments before amunicipality can move forward with bonding the project. "This isjust another way to get economic development going when monies aretight," he says.