[Calclg-l] Mills Act Information Request: City of Pomona

[Kollar, Judy]

Hi Jennifer,

 

Below are the responses for Pomona.

 

Judy Kollar

Senior Planner

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Gates, Jennifer [mailto:GatesJ at san-clemente.org] 
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 2:15 PM
To: calclg-l at ohp.parks.ca.gov
Subject: [Calclg-l] Mills Act Information Request

 

Good Morning CLGs!  On Monday the 23rd, CPF will be holding a workshop

in San Clemente on the Mills Act and we would like to share what's

happening in other communities with the Mills Act program.  Please share

what's going on in your community when you have a minute. 

 

 

 

1.       How old is your program?

 

The program was originally adopted in 2003.  An extensively revise version
of the program was adopted in April of this year.

 

2.       Eligibility: Are all listed buildings eligible for Mills Act

 

Yes.  Our revised program liberalized the approach to non-contributing
structures within locally designated districts as follows:

 

Qualifying properties include a non-contributing structure that is located
within a designated historic district, is at least fifty years old, and will
be brought closer to qualifying for re-designation as a contributing
structure by the completion of the projects approved under the contract.

 

3.       Additions: Do you allow additions to historic structures under

the Mills Act if they follow the standards?

 

The property tax saving realized during the first ten years following
execution of the contract shall be spent on completing the schedule of
projects included in the approved Restoration, Rehabilitation and
Preservation Plan (the Plan).  The estimated cost of completing the schedule
of projects shall be equal to or exceed the estimated property tax savings
realized during this ten-year period.   Subsequent property tax savings
shall be spent to maintain and preserve the property and when necessary,
restore and rehabilitate the property throughout the term of the contract.
ADDITIONS CANNOT BE INCLUDED IN THE PLAN. NOT WITHSTANDING THIS PROHBITION,A
MILLS ACT PROPERTY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO OBTAIN HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMISSION APPROVAL FOR AN ADDITION AT ANY TIME DURING THE LIFE OF A
CONTRACT.  

 

 

  What size additions do communities allow under the contract? 

 

There are no maximum size limits.  However, our Historic Preservation
regulations and Commission require that additions be placed on the rear of a
structure whenever possible, not project above the existing roof line, and
be consistent with the style and materials of the existing structure.

 

 Are they assessed under the

special assessment?

 

That is a good question.  To date, no additions have been requested on a
Mills Act property.  We will need to resolve this issue.

 

 

4.       Restoration Conditions: What type of improvements do

communities require within the 10 years, if any?  

 

A wide range of projects may be considered for inclusion in the Restoration,
Rehabilitation and Preservation Plan of a Mills Act contract. (We have a
"List of Suggested Projects" that is very liberal.)  However, to qualify for
the program, each project must meet the following requirements:

 

a.    All aspects of the project including, but not limited to, its design,
materials, and techniques must comply with the rules and regulations of the
State Office of Historic Preservation of the Department of Parks and
Recreation; the United States Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
Rehabilitation; the State Historic Building Code; and the City of Pomona
Municipal Code, Historic Preservation Ordinance and Design Guidelines.

b.    Projects required to ensure the structural integrity of a structure
(e.g., seismic retrofitting, electrical change out or termite treatment)
shall be completed prior to the undertaking of projects involving other
elements of the structure. 

c.    For projects involving removable features (e.g., light fixtures,
fireplace mantelpieces or built-in cabinets), the features shall remain
attached to the structure. 

d.    For projects involving interior work, the subject structure shall be
made accessible to the public during the term of the contract once every
three years for a tour, upon request by Pomona Heritage, The Historical
Society of Pomona Valley or The Auxiliary of the Pomona Valley Hospital
Medical Center.  Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to
require that the subject structure be made available for a tour more than
once every three years.

 

 

Do you add more after

the initial 10 years? 

 

No. 

 

 

What other restrictions/clauses does your

community require?

 

Additions (e.g., room or patio additions) and the relocation of structures
cannot be included in the Restoration, Rehabilitation and Preservation Plan
of a Mills Act contract.

 

5.       Monitoring: How does your community track their contracts and

the improvements?

 

On a yearly basis, City staff shall inspect the property to evaluate the
status of approved projects and the general condition of the property.
Inspections of the interior of structures shall be required when the
schedule of projects includes interior work.

 

 

6.       City Revenue Loss: Does your community maintain an assessment

tracker to understand the amount of city revenue "lost" every year due

to the special tax assessment? 

 

Not yet.

 

 

7.       Lessons Learned/Recent Issues...

 

We are concerned that our revised program may become so popular that staff
will be stretched very thin in its efforts to process and monitor contracts.

 

 

If you want a copy of the findings of this survey please send me an

email.

 

Thank you!

 

Jennifer

 

 

 

Jennifer M. Gates, AICP ~ Associate Planner

 

City of San Clemente ~ Planning Division

 

910 Calle Negocio Suite 100 ~ San Clemente, Ca 92673

 

Phone: 949.361.6192 ~ Fax: 949.366.4750

 

 

 

 

 

_______________________________________________

Calclg-l mailing list

Calclg-l at ohp.parks.ca.gov

http://lists.cwo.com/mailman/listinfo/calclg-l