(a) The guidelines for community reinvestment area tax exemptions, as set forth in subsection (b) hereof, shall be monitored and administered by the Housing Officer in his or her determination of tax exemptions for certification to the County Auditor. Such guidelines shall be administratively applied unless a question of interpretation arises or unless special circumstances warrant direct review of a development project by Council.
(b) The following guidelines for community reinvestment area tax exemptions provide objective rules whereby the City Manager, as the designated Housing Officer, shall certify to the County Auditor and other appropriate authorities in the tax exemption status of certain development projects making an approved application for such tax exemption. In those cases where there is a question regarding the application of these guidelines, or where an applicant believes other standards should apply, Council reserves the right of final review and decision.
(1) For the remodeling or new construction of any dwelling units, the tax exemption shall be for the maximum time period allowed by the Ohio Revised Code.
(2) For remodeling costs exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) for any commercial or industrial properties, the tax exemption shall be for a period of ten years.
(3) For the new construction of any commercial or industrial structures at locations where privately financed, off-site infrastructure improvements have been installed in the last three years at a private cost exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), for the benefit of the general public as well as for the developer, the tax exemption shall be for a period of fifteen years. Examples include oversized and looped water mains, new sewerage and traffic signals. Usual and customary right-of-way improvements, such as curbs, sidewalks and pavement widenings, shall not count as infrastructure improvements.
(4) For the new construction of any commercial or industrial structures where employment meets or exceeds the lesser of either twenty-five full-time equivalent jobs, or an annual payroll of four hundred twenty thousand dollars ($420,000), or where the heated and finished area under roof in the primary structure on the lot exceeds 25,000 square feet, the tax exemption shall be for a period of fifteen years.
(5) For the new construction of any commercial or industrial structures not meeting the descriptions herein, tax exemption shall be for a period of five years.
(c) An application for tax exemption shall be initiated by a directly benefiting property owner. Such application shall be made within thirty months of building permit issuance for the eligible structure and within twelve months of a certificate of occupancy having been issued by the City.
(Res. 37-89. Passed 9-12-89.)