Sec. 11. (a) The policy established by the department under section 6 of this chapter must give secondary consideration to state construction of facilities within a downtown area if the restoration or reuse, or both, of existing structures within a downtown area is not determined to be a reasonable alternative by the department.

     (b) With regard to state constructed facilities, the policy established by the department must provide that reasonable efforts shall be made to:

(1) make the scale and facade of the structure maintain the architectural integrity of the existing streetscape;

(2) ensure that the structure meets the federal Americans with Disabilities Act requirements in an aesthetically pleasing manner;

(3) deny a request from a state agency to locate or to relocate outside a downtown area unless it is documented that no reasonable alternative exists. Lack of onsite parking is not alone sufficient documentation when alternative parking is available in a downtown area; and

(4) coordinate the location of state constructed facilities with existing public and private sector organizations committed to community development, downtown revitalization, and historic preservation.

As added by P.L.252-1999, SEC.1.