(a) Designation of Area. The area designated as the City of Wapakoneta 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.
(b) Establishment. Pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3735.66, the City of Wapakoneta Community Reinvestment Area is hereby established as the incorporated area of the City of Wapakoneta. The Community Reinvestment Area is approximately depicted as the crosshatched area on the map attached to Ordinance 2011-48R (see Exhibit "A") and by this reference incorporated herein. Only residential, commercial and/or industrial properties consistent with the applicable zoning regulations within the designated Community Reinvestment Area will be eligible for exemptions under this Program.
(c) Eligibility for Incentives. All properties identified in Exhibit "A" to Ordinance 2011-48R as being within the designated Community Reinvestment Area are eligible for this incentive. This proposal is a public/private partnership intended to promote and expand conforming uses in the designated area. As part of the project, the City intends to undertake supporting public improvements in the designated area.
(d) Tax Exemption. Within the Community Reinvestment Area, the percentage of the tax exemption on the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from the improvements to commercial and industrial real property and the term of those exemptions shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis in advance of construction or remodeling occurring according to the rules outlined in R.C. § 3735.67. The results of the negotiation approved by this Council will be set in writing in a Community Reinvestment Area Agreement as outlined in R.C. § 3735.671. For residential property, a tax exemption on the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from the improvements as described in R.C, § 3735.67 shall be granted upon application by the property owner and certification thereof by the designated Housing Officer. Such commercial and residential exemptions shall be for the following periods and at the following percentages:
(1) Five years, for remodeling of every residential dwelling unit containing not more than two housing units and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000), as described in R.C. § 3735.67, and with such exemption being 100 percent for each of the five years. Residential remodeling may be applied for up to six months after completion of the remodeling.
A. For the purposes of this Community Reinvestment Area, structures exclusively used for residential purposes and composed of more than two housing units shall be classified as commercial properties and the term and percentage of the exemption shall be negotiated as described in this section.
B. No exemption shall be offered for new residential construction.
(2) Up to, and including twelve years, and up to, and including 100 percent for the remodeling of existing commercial and industrial facilities and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), as described in R.C. § 3735.67, the term and percentage of which shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis in advance of remodeling occurring.
(3) Up to, and including fifteen years, and up to, and including 100 percent for the construction of new commercial or industrial facilities, the term and percentage of which shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis in advance of construction occurring.
(4) If construction of a commercial property was completed during the year 2020 a tax exemption may be granted post-construction with the term and rate still subject to negotiation on a case-by-case basis.
(e) Fee Requirements. All commercial and industrial projects are required to comply with the State application fee requirements of Ohio R.C. 3735.672(C) and the local annual monitoring fee requirements of Ohio R.C. 3735.671(D) of one percent of the amount of taxes exempted under the agreement - a minimum of five hundred dollars ($500.00) up to a maximum of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) annually unless waived.
(f) Housing Officer. To administer and implement the provisions of this section, the Director of Public Service and Safety, or his or her authorized agent/designee, is designated as the Housing Officer as described in Ohio R.C. 3735.65 through 3735.70.
(g) Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council (CRAHC); Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC).
(1) A Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council (CRAHC) shall be created, consisting of two members appointed by the Mayor, two members appointed by the City Council and one member appointed by the Planning Commission. The majority of the members shall then appoint two additional members who shall be residents within the area. Terms of the members of the CRAHC shall be for three years. An unexpired term resulting from a vacancy in the CRAHC shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment was made. 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 Ohio R.C. 3735.67. This Council shall also hear appeals under Ohio R.C. 3735.70.
(2) A Tax Incentive Review Council (TIRC) shall be established pursuant to Ohio R.C. 5709.85 and shall consist of three representatives appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, two representatives of the municipal corporation appointed by the Mayor with Council concurrence, the County Auditor or designee, and a representative of each affected Board of Education. At least two members must be residents of the City. The Tax Incentive Review Council shall review annually the compliance of all agreements involving the granting of exemptions for commercial or industrial real property improvement under Ohio R.C. 3735.671 and make written recommendations to the City Council as to continuing, modifying or terminating said agreement upon the performance of the agreement.
(h) Re-evaluation. The City Council reserves the right to re-evaluate the designation of the Wapakoneta Community Reinvestment Area in December of each year at which time the Council may direct the Housing Officer not to accept any new applications for exemptions as described in Ohio R.C. 3735.67.
(Ord. 2011-48R. Passed 9-19-11; Ord. 2021-29. Passed 6-28-21.)