(a)  Any covenants, conditions, or restrictions existing on any real property within a project area prior to the time the agency acquires title to such property, which covenants, conditions, or restrictions restrict or purport to restrict the use of, or building upon, such real property, shall be void and unenforceable as to the agency and any other subsequent owners, tenants, lessees, easement holders, mortgagees, trustees, beneficiaries under a deed of trust, or any other persons or entities acquiring an interest in such real property from such time as title to the real property is acquired by an agency whether acquisition is by gift, purchase, eminent domain, or otherwise.

(b)  Thirty days prior to the acquisition of real property other than by eminent domain, the agency shall provide notice of such acquisition and the provisions of this section to holders of interests which would be made void and unenforceable pursuant to this section as follows:

(1)  The agency shall publish notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the community in which the agency is functioning.

(2)  The agency shall mail notice to holders of such interests if such holders appear of record 60 days prior to the date of acquisition.

The agency may accept any release by written instrument from the holder of any such interest or may commence action to acquire such interest after the date of acquisition of the real property.

(c)  This section shall not apply to covenants, conditions or restrictions imposed by a redevelopment plan or by an agency pursuant to a redevelopment plan. This section also shall not apply to covenants, conditions or restrictions where an agency in writing expressly acquires or holds property subject to such covenants, conditions, or restrictions.

This section shall not limit or preclude any rights of reversion of owners, assignees, or beneficiaries of such covenants, conditions, or restrictions limiting the use of land in gifts of land to cities, counties, or other governmental entities. This section shall not limit or preclude the rights of owners or assignees of any land benefited by any covenants, conditions, or restrictions to recover damages against the agency if under law such owner or assignee has any right to damages. No right to damages shall exist against any purchaser from the agency or his successors or assigns, or any other persons or entities.

(Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 880.)