An item capping historic zoning for homes – and the property tax losses they create – is coming to City Council this Thursday. Does this resolution have some curb appeal? Or will the council flip out over the proposal?
Historic zoning, and the revenue-draining tax breaks that come with it, has been under close scrutiny since an avalanche of cases last December – just in time to receive tax abatements for the new year – brought the issues to council’s attention. If approved for historic zoning, and homeowners receive an abatement, the higher of $2,000 or half the property taxes before any exemptions; as most applicants hail from pricier central-city neighborhoods, the abatements often exceed $2,000. So with the deluge of cases last year, an uptick of applications generally, questions about equity and geographic dispersal, and a proliferation of consultants that will see a homeowner’s proposal through at the city (in exchange for a portion of the rebated taxes), there appears to be growing concern at the city regarding the process.
The item, from Bill Spelman, Mike Martinez, and Randi Shade, is twofold: First, it makes a temporary code amendment, due to expire at the end of next year, limiting the number of owner initiated landmark nominations to three a month, and the number of cases from a given Local Historic District to one a month. Secondly, it directs the city manager to work with the Historic Landmark Commission “to prepare recommendations concerning allocation of city resources for historic preservation purposes and the formula for tax incentives for preserving historic structures,” with that proposal due by the end of this year. The first part staunches the bleeding; the second allows for a more detailed look at what the city can afford.
No surprise here, but look for Laura Morrison to have the most concern when it comes to the dais this Thursday. When the issue’s come to council previously, Morrison’s called for a cautious reevaluation of the program. Whether the split-the-baby approach inherit in Spelman’s two-part resolution is delicate enough remains to be seen, but the co-sponsorship of serial swing-vote Shade bodes well for passage, as does Martinez’s presence, who often votes in tandem with the mayor.
The Hustle will round out the rest of this Thursday’s agenda tomorrow.
What the hell else is happening?
On the city calendar: City Council’s Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Committee meets in the Board and Commission room at City Hall, 310 W. Second, 2pm. They’ll talk about the Waller Creek Master Plan, Downtown Density Bonus recommendations, the bond package process.
The Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan’s Scenario Development Open House is happening at
Palmer Events Center, Meeting Room #1, 900 Barton Springs, 3pm.The Public Safety Commission moves into the B&C room at 4pm. It looks like public safety cameras are the hot topic today.
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This article appears in June 4 • 2010.