ZON-2020-0092
Mills Act Contract
330 West Whiting Avenue
Public Hearing Item
1 Project Location
2 Zone: R-2P (Two-Family Residential Preservation)
-- subject property
Whiting Avenue
Highland Avenue
Ford Avenue
2 Project Description
Consideration of a Mills Act Contract for the preservation, rehabilitation and maintenance of historic property. 3 In April 2020, the City Council adopted a Mills Act Program and associated Mills Act Program Guidelines.
The Mills Act allows owners of historic properties to voluntarily enter into individual contracts with the City in order to receive a property tax reduction in exchange for the restoration and maintenance of their historic property.
Background
4 Pursuant to the adopted Mills Act Program Guidelines, the City may process no more than ten Mills Act Contracts per calendar year.
The request is the only application submitted in the 2022 calendar year and is the City’s second property requesting a Contract.
The property falls under a qualified historic designation (Preservation Zone) and meets additional eligibility criteria for consideration for a Mills Act Contract.
Background
5 The property was built in 1920 and represents a “Bungalow Style” architectural style.
Key defining features representative of this architectural style include Wide gable roof with a second gable roof over a partial-width porch supported by tapered wooden posts.
Exposed roof rafters
Attic venting in gable ends
Wood lap siding
Fixed, casement and hung wood windows
Existing Conditions
6 Submitted Rehabilitation/Maintenance Plan outlines items completed to date, including foundation repair, plumbing, fencing and front yard landscape.
Staff pre-approval inspection revealed property is generally in good standing with proper maintenance of its historic integrity. Areas noticeably out of historical context included no detached garage. Staff recommends the Rehabilitation/Maintenance Plan include construction of the garage.
Based on the findings from the pre-approval inspection, the property continues to maintain its architectural integrity, according to state and local standards and remains a qualified historical property and would be appropriate for consideration of a Mills Act Contract.
Existing Conditions
7 Work completed on the property should support the long-term preservation of the building and shall conform with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. All work must relate to the exterior or building systems.
The City requires Mills Act Contract applicants to submit a description of work, timeline and cost estimates for the rehabilitation of the property during the first ten-year term of the contract.
The Mills Act Contract between the property owner and the City includes the Rehabilitation/Maintenance Plan as an attachment and becomes binding on all future property owners. The proposed Rehabilitation/Maintenance Plan identifies qualifying exterior improvements.
Mills Act Contract
8 City receives 15.64% of property taxes, with the remaining portion going to County, School Districts and Special Districts.
Reduction in property tax revenue to the City from a Mills Act Contract is limited to the General Tax Levy portion of the property tax bill.
Property Tax Impacts
9 Recommended Actions
Adopt Resolution No. 2022-XX approving a Mills Act Contract between the City and owner of historic property at 330 West Whiting Avenue in the form of an Historic Property Preservation Agreement Authorize Director of the Community and Economic Development Department to review subsequent updated schedules of improvements and maintenance items provided by the property owner pursuant to the Historic Property Preservation Agreement (Agreement) prior to the tenth anniversary of the Agreement and every tenth anniversary thereafter. 10 ZON-2020-0092
Mills Act Contract
330 West Whiting Avenue
Public Hearing Item
11