Explanation
Background: The goal of a Community Reinvestment Area is neighborhood revitalization and stabilization.
This Ordinance will amend Ordinance Number 0223-2004, the Gibbard Avenue Community Reinvestment Area (See Exhibit A) in order to continue to provide for real property tax exemptions for residentially zoned parcels within the expansion area, to conform to the current standards of review by the Ohio Department of Development by including updated language from the Ohio Revised Code, and to designate the Development Department's Housing Administrator as the CRA Housing Officer.
The Ordinance will allow the continued exemption from the increase in real property tax for new single family homes built on vacant lots and on the increase in valuation of existing single and multi-family housing units, resulting from renovation, within the established boundaries.
Emergency action is being requested so that current applications for residential tax abatement from eligible property owners in the area can be processed.
Fiscal Impact: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To amend Ordinance Number 0223-2004, the Gibbard Avenue Community Reinvestment Area, in order to continue real property tax exemptions as established in Section 3735.65 to 3735.70 of the Ohio Revised Code, and for the purpose of including language from the Ohio Revised Code as well as the inclusion of an additional Section designating the Development Department's Housing Administrator as the designated Housing Officer; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the original Gibbard Avenue Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) that was established in 2004 by ordinance 0223-2004, has expired and incentives for continued residential development are necessary; and
WHEREAS, the State's Department of Development has requested the inclusion of language within Section 3735.67 of the Ohio Revised Code be added to relevant sections of all CRA ordinances in order to establish minimum threshold investments for abated properties located within the boundaries of each designated CRA; and
WHEREAS, an additional Section to Ordinance 0223-2004 is being added which designates the city's Department of Development's Housing Administrator as the Housing Officer designated to implement and administer the provisions of the of the ordinance as cited in Sections 3735-65 through 3735.70 of the Ohio Revised Code; and
WHEREAS, the council of the City of Columbus (hereinafter "Council") desires to pursue reasonable and legitimate incentive measures to assist and encourage development in specific areas of the City of Columbus that have not enjoyed reinvestment from remodeling or new construction; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 1698-78, approved August 3, 1978, as amended by Ordinance No. 1345-02, approved July 29, 2003, authorized the Department of Development to carry out a Community Reinvestment Program, pursuant to Sections 3735.65 to 3735.70 of the Ohio Revised Code, and approved certain administrative procedures for the program; and
WHEREAS, an updated list of parcels (see Exhibit A) and a new, updated survey of housing conditions (see Exhibit B) as required by Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 3735.66 has been prepared and included to support the extension of this Community Reinvestment Area; and
WHEREAS, the continued remodeling of existing buildings for residential use and construction of new residential structures in this Community Reinvestment Area would serve to encourage economic stability, maintain real property values, and generate new employment opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the continued remodeling of existing housing units for residential use and the construction of new residential structures in this Community Reinvestment Area constitutes a public purpose for which real property exemptions may be granted; and
WHEREAS, this proposal is a public/private partnership intended to promote and expand conforming uses in the designated area; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Housing Division, in that it is immediately necessary to amend the Gibbard CRA ordinance in order that current applications for residential tax abatement from eligible property owners in the area can be processed, all for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That Section 1 of Ordinance 0223-2004 is hereby amended to read as follows:
The area depicted in Exhibit A as the Gibbard Avenue Community Reinvestment Area constitutes an area in which housing facilities or structures of historical significance are located, and in which new construction or repair of existing facilities has been discouraged.
Section 2. That Section 2 of Ordinance 0223-2004 is hereby amended to read as follows:
Pursuant to ORC Section 3735.66, The Gibbard Avenue Community Reinvestment Area is hereby established in the following described area:
North: Fifth Avenue (Including rear property lines on the North side
of Fifth Avenue)
South: Bliss Street and Old Leonard Avenue (Including rear property
lines on the South side of Bliss and Leonard))
East: Taylor Avenue (Including rear property lines on the East side of
Taylor Avenue)
West: Joyce Avenue (Including rear property lines on the West side of
Joyce Avenue)
The Community Reinvestment Area is approximately depicted as the area on the maps, boundary description and parcel numbers marked as Exhibit A in this ordinance; and by this reference incorporated herein.
Only residential properties consistent with the applicable zoning regulations and variances thereto within the designated Community Reinvestment Area will be eligible for exemptions under this Program.
Section 3. That Section 3 of Ordinance 0223-2004 is hereby amended to read as follows.
A tax exemption on the increase in the assessed valuation, resulting from improvements as described herein, shall be granted upon proper application by the property owner and approval by the designated Housing Officer.
Abatement terms and percentages are as follows:
(a) One hundred percent (100%) for ten (10) years for the remodeling of:
owner-occupied dwellings containing not more than two housing units and upon which the remodeling cost is at least twenty percent (20%) of the current assessed value of the existing structure (excluding land) as determined by the County Auditor for the tax year prior to the improvement and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $2500.00, as described in ORC Section 3735. 67;
conversion of rental housing to owner-occupied housing, containing not more than two units, upon which the remodeling cost is at least fifty percent (50%) of the current assessed value of the existing structure (excluding land) as determined by the County Auditor for the tax year prior to the improvement.
(b) One hundred percent (100%) for twelve (12) years for the remodeling of:
owner-occupied dwellings containing more than two housing units and upon which the remodeling cost is at least twenty percent (20%) of the current assessed value of the existing structure (excluding land) as determined by the County Auditor for the tax year prior to the improvement and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $5000.00 as described in ORC Section 3735.67;
existing rental housing, containing more than two housing units, upon which the remodeling cost is at least fifty percent (50%) of the current assessed value of the existing structure (excluding land) as determined by the County Auditor for the tax year prior to the improvement and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $5000.00 as described in ORC Section 3735.67;
conversion of rental housing to owner-occupied housing, containing more than two units, upon which the remodeling cost is at least fifty percent (50%) of the current assessed value of the existing structure (excluding land) as determined by the County Auditor for the tax year prior to the improvement.
(c) One hundred percent (100%) for fifteen (15) years for newly built:
construction of new owner-occupied dwelling.
construction of new owner-occupied dwellings containing more than two housing units.
A pre-application will be required to insure the compatibility with neighborhood plans and to insure the maintenance of existing streetscape lines, style, scale setbacks and landscaping features compatible with neighborhood
Section 4. That Section 4 of Ordinance 0223-2004 is hereby amended to read as follows:
That City Council reserves the right to re-evaluate the designation of the Gibbard Avenue Community Reinvestment Area after December 31, 2015, at which time Council may direct the Housing Officer not to accept any applications for exemptions as described in Section 3735.67 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Section 5. That Section 5 of Ordinance 0223-2004 is hereby amended to read as follows:
That a Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council shall continue, consisting of two members appointed by the Mayor of the City of Columbus, two members appointed by the Council of the City of Columbus and one member appointed by the Planning Commission of Columbus. The majority of those members shall then appoint two additional members who shall be residents within the Gibbard Avenue Community Reinvestment Area. Terms of the members of the Council shall be for three years. An un-expired term resulting from a vacancy in the Council shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment was made for the remainder of the term of the vacated seat.
Section 6. That Section 6 of Ordinance 0223-2004 will remain unchanged to read as follows:
The Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council shall make an annual inspection of the properties within the district for which an exemption has been granted under Section 3735.66 of the ORC. The council shall also hear appeals under 3735.70, of the ORC.
Section 7. That Section 7 of Ordinance 0223-2004 will remain unchanged to read as follows:
That this Council further hereby authorizes and directs the Mayor, the Clerk of Council, the Director of Development, or other appropriate officers of the City to prepare and sign all agreements and instruments and to take any other actions as may be appropriate to implement this Ordinance.
Section 8. That Ordinance 0223-2004 is hereby amended to include the following Section 9:
Section 9. To administer and implement the provisions of this Ordinance, the Administrator of the Department of Development's Housing Division is designated as the Housing Officer as described in Sections 3735.65 through 3735.70 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Section 10. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.