§ 2-4. Areas of operation.

(a) Renewal areas.

(1) Renewal areas shall be areas within the boundary lines of the City of Baltimore which may be benefitted through the exercise of the functions and powers vested in the Department of Housing and Community Development by this ordinance {subtitle}, on a comprehensive basis, including the acquisition or disposition of property or the undertaking of activities to effect substantial environmental change.

(2) The Department of Housing and Community Development, after consultation with the Director of the Department of Planning, shall determine such areas and shall make recommendations to the City Council for the introduction of ordinances designating them as "Renewal Areas".

(3) The Planning Commission shall make recommendations to the City Council for passage of said ordinances.

(b) Conservation areas.

(1) Conservation areas shall be areas within the boundary lines of the City of Baltimore which may be benefitted through the exercise of the functions and powers vested in the Department of Housing and Community Development by this ordinance {subtitle}, on a comprehensive basis, exclusive of property acquisition by use of the power of eminent domain except where the Conservation Plan permits the acquisition by use of the power of eminent domain of property for failure to comply with applicable regulatory codes or for failure to meet minimum standards or authorizes the acquisition by use of the power of eminent domain of vacant property or property on which structures have been razed for reasons of health and safety.

(2) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall determine such areas and upon approval of the Director of the Department of Planning and the Board of Estimates shall designate them as "Conservation Areas"; provided, however, that when the powers of property acquisition by use of the power of eminent domain or disposition are required in a Conservation Area, the Department of Housing and Community Development shall make a recommendation to the City Council for the introduction of, and the Planning Commission shall make recommendations to the City Council for the passage of, an ordinance authorizing the exercise of such powers.

Nothing herein contained shall preclude the Department of Housing and Community Development from exercising General Powers (4) through (11) of § 2-3(a) of this ordinance {subtitle} in any area within the boundary lines of the City of Baltimore so long as the exercise of such powers shall be in conformity with the Master Plan or Official Detailed Plan, if any, applicable to the area of the City involved.