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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2D: Resolution Approving Extension of Historic Tax Benefits ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Adoption of Resolution 4873 Authorizing a Second Term of Historic Property Classification and Special Assessment for Residential Property Pursuant to HB 2776 (2005 OR Laws CH 549) Meeting Date: May 22, 2006 Agenda Item Number: 2D Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Ken Guzowski www.ci.eugene.or.us Contact Telephone Number: 682-5562 ISSUE STATEMENT In order for owners of residential properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places to apply for a second 15-year enrollment in the Oregon Special Assessment Program, the City Council must adopt the attached resolution. Participation in this program is voluntary, so the property owner takes responsibility for submitting his or her Special Assessment application directly to the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The Special Assessment Program is administered by the Oregon SHPO, which resolves all compliance issues directly with the owner. Once the application is approved, the Special Assessment Program allows the property taxes to be frozen at their current assessed value for a second 15-year period, with the agreement that the owner will use the tax savings to appropriately rehabilitate the historic property. BACKGROUND The City Council has not been involved in the Oregon Special Assessment Program in the past. Both residential and commercial properties have the ability to enroll in this program. Commercial properties enrolled in the Oregon Special Assessment Program have been able to enroll in a second 15-year tax freeze since 1995. HB 2776 helps to level the playing field for residential properties, so that all properties listed in the National Register can apply for a second 15-year tax freeze in Oregon. The Oregon SHPO works directly with applicants to develop their preservation plan and to ensure compliance and timeliness. The legislative content of HB 2776 makes residential property eligible for a second 15-year period, provided the local government adopts a resolution authorizing a second term on a jurisdictional basis, not on a building-by-building basis. Currently, there are 25 historic properties in Eugene that are enrolled in Oregon’s Special Assessment Program. Two of the commercial properties are in the process of applying for a second 15-year enrollment. Of these 25 properties, 15 are residential in use, and the remaining 10 are commercial in use. Financial implications to the City’s Permanent Tax Levy are small, at an estimated average savings of about $400/year or $6,000 over 15 years for each property enrolled in the program. The General Fund will lose about $90,000 in total tax revenues for these 15 properties. The assessor will reassess the property at a percentage of its real value at the time the owner chooses to enroll a second time. Five letters of support are attached to this Agenda Item Summary including the recommendation of Eugene’s Historic Review Board, which deliberated on this item at its March 30, 2006, meeting. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060522\S0605222D.doc RELATED CITY POLICIES Policy 1 of the Historic Preservation Element of the Eugene/Springfield Metro Area General Plan states: Policy 1. Adopt and implement historic preservation policies, regulations, and incentive programs that encourage the inventory, preservation, and restoration of structures; landmarks; sites; and areas of cultural, historic, or archaeological significance, consistent with overall policies. Adoption of the proposed resolution supports Policy 1 because it would facilitate an incentive program administered by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office that encourages the rehabilitation of significant historic structures that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. COUNCIL OPTIONS The City Council has the option to adopt the resolution as written, not adopt the resolution or amend the resolution. Adoption of the resolution will allow current and future residential properties listed in the National Register to enroll in a second 15-year Special Assessment Program allowing them the tax savings so that they can continue to reinvest the savings in the rehabilitation of their property. Not adopting the resolution will prohibit current and future residential properties listed in the National Register from enrolling in a second 15-year Special Assessment Program. Upon expiration of the first 15-year enrollment, the properties will be reassessed at current market value for the purpose of taxation. If the City Council wants to amend any portion of the attached resolution, it should direct staff to what issues should be addressed and in what manner. CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION The City Manager recommends the City Council adopt the attached resolution. SUGGESTED MOTION Move to Resolution 4873 authorizing a second term of historic property classification and special assessment for residential property pursuant to HB 2776 (2005 OR Laws CH549). ATTACHMENTS A. Proposed Resolution B. Letters of support for adoption of the resolution. FOR MORE INFORMATION Staff Contact: Ken Guzowski Telephone: 682-5562 Staff E-Mail: ken.j.guzowski@ci.eugene.or.us L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060522\S0605222D.doc ATTACHMENT A RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SECOND TERM OF HISTORIC PROPERTY CLASSIFICATION AND SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY PURSUANT TO HB 2776 (2005 OR LAWS CH 549). The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that: A. The City of Eugene and its citizens value the preservation of its architectural heritage and support tools to assist that preservation, including property tax deferment programs. B. The 2005 Oregon Legislature enacted HB 2776, to amend the Special Assessment of Historic Property program to allow residential property owners to reapply for a second term of special assessment providing, if the residential property is located within a city, the governing body of the city adopts a resolution or ordinance authorizing a second term of historic property classification and special assessment for residential property. C. The City Council finds that it would be in the public interest to authorize a second term of special assessment for residential property, subject to the provisions of HB 2776. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows: Section 1. The City of Eugene hereby authorizes a second term of historic property classification and special assessment for owners of residential historic property, subject to compliance with applicable statutes of the State and rules promulgated by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. Section 2. The City Recorder is requested to forward a copy of this Resolution to the State Historic Preservation Officer. Section 3. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its adoption. The foregoing Resolution adopted the _ day of ,2006. City Recorder Resolution ATTACHMENT B Mayor Kitty Piercy and Eugene City Council 777 Pearl Street, Room 105 Eugene, Oregon 97401 April 28, 2006 Honorable Mayor Piercy and City Council, On March 30, 2006, Eugene's Historic Review Board deliberated on the attached draft resolution, which adopts a second period of Special Assessment of Historic Property pursuant to HB 2776. The Board agreed that the Oregon Special Assessment Program is an excellent mechanism for encouraging appropriate rehabilitation of historic properties. The Board believes that it is fair to revalue the property at current market assessment following conclusion of the first fifteen years of enrollment and to allow the owner of that residential property to apply for a second fifteen-year term of special assessment. The Oregon Special Assessment Program requires that the property be open to the public for four consecutive hours in a year. This open house requirement serves to educate visitors on the merits of rehabilitation of a historic property. By extension, the rehabilitation of historic properties can serve as an incentive for others in a neighborhood to fix up and clean up. Locally, the Historic Review Board has observed this to be true in the Blair Boulevard Historic Commercial Area as well as the East Skinner Butte Historic District. On May 22, 2006, the City Council will consider this resolution to allow residential property owners to register for a second fifteen-year enrollment in the Oregon Special Assessment Program. This program is available only to an owner of property listed in the National Register of Historic Places. (Owners of commercial property listed in the National Register already have the option to apply for a second fifteen-year enrollment in the program.) The program is administered by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, so it does not impose an undue burden on Eugene's planning staff. The Historic Review Board encourages you to consider adoption ofthis resolution at your May 22, 2006 meeting. If you have any questions, please feel welcome to contact me at 345-5553. Thank you for your consideration. Chair Historic Review Board cc: HRB ARTHUR C JOHNSON JACOB K. CLIFTON, JR RICHARD L LARSON DOUGLAS G. SCHALLER DEREK C. JOHNSON" MARILYN A HEIKEN SCOTT CLUCAS MICHELE C. SMITH JOHNSON, CLIFTON, LARSON & SCHALLER, P.C. ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW 975 OAK STREET. SUITE 1050 EUGENE, OREGON 97401-3124 (541) 484-2434 RICHARD L LARSON E-Mail: rlarson@)cic.com DARLENE RUIZ AssIstant E-Mail DIRECT FAX ~~Also Member California and Washington Bars March 7. 2006 KEN GUZOWSKI, SENIOR PLANNER PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DEPT. 99 West I oth Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97401 Re: BENEFITS OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FOR HISTORIC PROPERTIES Dear Ken: I understand that the City of Eugene is contemplating whether to allow historic residential properties to enroll in a second IS-year special assessment. As you know we recently applied for a second IS-year special assessment for the Tiffany Building which is a mixed use structure. While the initial IS-year term was a major inducement to the owner/investors to have the building renovated in accordance with historic guidelines, the second IS-year term was also important to assist the owners in undertaking needed refurbishment and other improvements to maintain the historic character of the building on an economically viable basis. Historic structures are important to the City's landscape and identity. However there are certain features of historic structures which make renovation more expensive. Through the special assessment program the difference in cost can be brought more closely into alignment making it for an owner/investor to pursue and maintain historic renovations rather than implementing other lower cost but historically inconsistent solutions. I hope that the City will recognize the need for and benefits of allowing a second IS-year assessment period for residential properties. Very truly yours, Richard L. Larson RLL/dr NEAL & ENG ATIORNEYS AT LAW DAN E. NEAL dneal@nealeng.net fERN ENG fern@nealeng.net TELEPHONE (541) 484.73] 1 fACSIMILE (541) 4844290 1361 PEARL STREET EUGENE, OREGON 97401 January 26, 2006 Ken Guzowski City of Eugene 99 West 1 Oth Avenue Eugene, OR 97401 Dear Councilors: Fifteen years ago, I was approached by the City of Eugene with a request that I cooperate in allowing the City to file an application on my behalf to register the Dorris Apartments at 963-979 Ferry Lane on the National Register of Historic Places. The application was granted. Unfortunately, the program which supports this registration in the State of Oregon lasts for only 15 years and that period is about to end. However, the 2005 Oregon legislature authorized municipalities to approve a resolution which would permit the State to extend the period under which benefits are allowed. I strongly urge the City Council to pass this resolution. By allowing property owners to receive the benefit of a propeliy tax freeze, property owners are much more likely to maintain historic structures in good condition, which will serve to benefit the public now and into the future. The Dorris Apartments is a good example of this. Within the past year, I have had the property painted to match the historic color of the structure. I have had the property re- roofed with high-quality 50-year roofing material. I have had a new copper colored gutter system installed. In my opinion, the Dorris Apartments looks better now than it has looked In 50 years. If you have any questions about the resolution or wish additional information from me, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for considering these comments. DEN:jb the well connected pedestrian and bike friendly streets and alleys, the various individual and unique interpretations of building styles (especially those that typify and speak to the craftsmanship and keen aesthetic sense of past builders and architects), the well cared for front yard gardens, the heritage street trees that reach out over the neighborhood streets like the pillars and arches a gothic cathedral, and the nearby shops, restaurants, parks, schools (oops, those have all recently disappeared), public spaces, outdoor cafes and other places ideal for social interaction, all within easy walking distance. It is obvious why residents in these neighborhoods would choose to walk or bike to destinations year round. Our urban environment is what surrounds us in our daily lives. The urban environment is mainly a built environment and can divided into three categories: private, public and semi-public spaces. Private spaces are the insides of our homes and area of our backyards. Public spaces are city streets, sidewalks, parks and public buildings (like the library and city hall). Semi-public spaces consist of store window displays, front yard gardens, the facades and front porches of houses and buildings. Semi-public spaces should be a concern to everyone. Even though semi-public spaces are privately owned, they are evocative features of our shared surroundings. Their presence affects us aiL They can make our environment richer or poorer by contributing or taking away from our sense of place. Those aspects which enrich our environment with beauty or historic significance need to be protected. In terms of community values and their influence, semi-public spaces belong to everyone. It is well recognized builders of houses structures before WWH were working with a sense design and aesthetics that the overwhelming majority oftoday's builders remodelers do not possess. fine arts and the appreciation fine art have over disappeared from the school curriculum and also from our values. Three consecutive generations of Americans have now come of age during that time period, most of whom never had the opportunity to develop an aesthetic appreciation or vocabulary for architecture or music. Beginning with do-it-'yourself remodeling of the 1950s, picking up pace during the Renewal" debacle of the late 60s and early 70s and accelerating up through the last two decades, degradation and demolition of Eugene's historic structures have been occurring at an alarming rate. a sense place usually happens incrementally, one small piece at a time, often without widespread public reaction. my brief 16 years of living in Eugene, I have witnessed degradation of the historic fabric in the older central city neighborhoods. of sensitivity to aesthetics and historic preservation is rampant. Remodelers and rarely seek on what the appropriate methods and are for preserving the historic character and charm of buildings. Much of the remodeling is driven by investors buying up properties in historic neighborhoods with the sole purpose of maximizing the return on their investments by maximizing square footage and minimizing maintenance: replacing or paving over front gardens to create parking, cc: \