Title
Consider public testimony regarding, and an ordinance granting a partial tax exemption from ad valorem taxes for certain qualified historically significant properties. (First Reading)*
Body
The Partial Tax Exemption for Historically Significant Sites program was created in 1982. The program encourages owners of historic properties to use money saved on property taxes to provide regular maintenance and repair to their historically designated structures. With this program, property owners receive a 75% exemption of municipal property taxes.
City staff conduct inspections of each property and prepare a report for the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), who is then responsible for reviewing the exemption applications and recommending to City Council whether a property should receive the exemption for this year. Recommended applications meet program eligibility requirements and the criteria for preservation and maintenance in Section 10-57 (g) of the Zoning & Development Code. City Council’s consideration of the ordinance includes a public hearing.
In 2025, 52 applications were received and 51 were approved. This year, 51 applications were received and 48 are recommended for approval. Exhibit A of the ordinance shows all applications and the inspection rating that each property received. The HPC recommended denying the exemption to three applications that did not meet the necessary maintenance standards due to items that had been flagged several consecutive years without being addressed by the owners: 802 E. Liberty Ave., 107 S. Mays St., and 307 E. Main St. Prior to the HPC meeting, the three owners were notified that their application status would be discussed, and all three emailed responses to staff which were conveyed to the HPC prior to the vote.
On May 19, the HPC voted unanimously to recommend 48 of the 51 applications to receive the exemption for a total sum of $170,588, as indicated in Exhibit A. Staff recommends City Council adopt the ordinance as recommended by the HPC.