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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8713INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8713 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 30, 2005 Page 1 of 3 SUBJECT: CITY'S TOOLS TO PROMOTE HISTORIC PRESERVATION t In response to a recent City Council request, staff is providing the following information regarding the City's tools to promote historic preservation. Preservation Ordinance The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance sets forth the powers of the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission to administer the preservation program. Chapter 4, Article 5, otherwise known as the Preservation Ordinance, describes the basic building blocks for local historic preservation, including the designation process for three types of designation: Highly Significant Endangered (HSE), Historic and Cultural Landmark (HC), and Demolition Delay (DD). The ordinance also describes the processes for acquiring a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior changes to property and for receiving a historic site tax exemption. Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission In total, the City has designated more than 2,600 historic properties for oversight by the Historic and Cultural Landmarks Commission, The Landmarks Commission consists of nine citizens appointed by the Mayor and the City Council. It is their responsibility to recommend eligible properties for historic designation based on documented significance and the designation criteria. They are also responsible for granting Certificates of Appropriateness for exterior changes to ��istoric property based on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and, where applicable, historic rr district design guidelines. They also verify projects for the historic site tax exemption. Historic Designations for Individual Buildings and Related Incentives The following are the three types of designation for individual buildings and corresponding incentives: • Highly Significant Endangered (HSE): Properties designated as HSE are recognized as some of the most important historic structures and sites in Fort Worth. They have also been deemed as some of the most endangered due to prolonged vacancy or deterioration. They must embody at least five of the ten criteria for designation and have documented evidence of endangerment. Often HSE buildings are large structures that have proven difficult to redevelop and therefore the City offers special economic incentives for stabilization and rehabilitation. Upon stabilization of an HSE property, the City offers a ten - year abatement on the City portion of ad valorem taxes on the structure and a five -year, 50% tax freeze on the land. Upon completion of a 30% rehabilitation investment into the property, the incentive converts to a ten -year abatement on the structure and a 10- year, 100% tax freeze on the land, set at pre - investment assessments with an optional five -year bonus for properties rehabilitated within two years of designation. • Historic and Cultural Landmark f"": The HC designation is applied to individual m r properties and districts. HC properties and districts are important to the history, architecture, and cutture of Fort Worth. To be designated HC, a property must meet three ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8713 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 30, 2005 Eq� Page 2 of 3 SUBJECT: CITY'S TOOLS TO PROMOTE HISTORIC PRESERVATION fa1'1 of the ten designation criteria. Property designated as HC is eligible to receive a ten -year tax freeze set at pre - investment assessments for a completed 30% rehabilitation investment into the property. Demolition Delay (DD): DD properties have been identified as resources that meet at least two of the ten designation criteria. Under the DD designation, the City may delay the structure's demolition for up to 180 days in order to pursue alternatives. This time frame may be shortened or waived at the discretion of the City. Historic Districts A collection of properties may be designated as a historic district. Usually, these are defined neighborhoods or collections of properties with similar architectural or historical themes. To be eligible, a district must have two structures that meet at least three of the ten designation criteria, i.e., eligible for individual designation. Properties are categorized by `contributing' or 'non- contributing' status based on the context for designation such as age, architectural style and integrity, and historic significance. Non - contributing structures may be removed or altered without strict adherence to the guidelines; when replaced however, all new construction must conform to the design guidelines. There are several ways to nominate a historic district: the Landmarks Commission and the City Council may nominate a district by resolution, the City Manager may submit a nomination through the Planning Department, or property owners may submit a nomination through a petition process. Where the signatures of owners of more than 50% of the individual parcels, tracts, or platted lots and 50% or more of the land area within a district can be verified, a nomination can be submitted to the Planning Department. This is the most common form of nomination because it enables the Historic Preservation Officer to work closely with property owners throughout the process. A neighborhood creates its own design guidelines that are appropriate for their specific goals of preservation and the context for designation, and City staff works with neighborhood leaders to identify significant buildings and contexts to use in creating these guidelines. All properties within the district are also eligible for the same tax incentives as individually designated HC properties. There are six local historic districts: Elizabeth Boulevard, Kenwood Court, Fairmount- Southside, Mistletoe Heights, Central Handley, and Garden of Eden. Citywide Historic Preservation Plan The Citywide Historic Preservation Plan, adopted by the City Council in July 2003, addresses five general topics: the City's historic resources survey and priorities, preservation regulations, preservation incentives, preservation aspects of City policies and decisions, and public education and communication. The Planning Department has taken the lead in implementing a significant portion of the Plan's recommendations. Actions already taken include the City Manager's issuance in January 2005 of Administrative Regulation A -10, which provides for an internal review process for City- sponsored projects that may impact historic resources. In addition, the City ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8713 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council august 30, 2005 Page 3 of 3 SUBJECT: CITY'S TOOLS TO PROMOTE HISTORIC PRESERVATION fm Council's Central City Revitalization and Economic Development Committee in November 2004 appointed the Focus Group on Preservation Incentives, which made a series of recommendations for strengthening the economic incentives and development review processes for historic rehabilitation projects. The City Council adopted the recommended amendment to the HSE tax exemption incentive in June 2005. Throughout the fall of 2005, the City will sponsor three workshops for consensus building among preservation groups, development and business groups, and government. City staff is currently working on amendments to the Preservation Ordinance, as recommended in the Plan, and expects to present those amendments for City Council consideration by the end of 2005. For additional information, please contact Fernando Costa, Planning Director, at 817- 392 -8042. Charles R. Boswell 411111111 ity Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS