17.50.060 Review and monitoring of properties for special property tax valuation

17.50.060 Review and monitoring of properties for special property tax valuation.

1. The Community Development Director shall forward applications for special property tax valuation to the Grays Harbor County Assessor and the Commission within 10 calendar days of receipt by the city.

2. The commission shall review applications before December 31 of the calendar year in which the application was submitted.

3. Commission decisions regarding the applications shall be in writing and filed with the Assessor within 10 calendar days of issuance.

1. The Assessor and the Commission shall review applications to determine if the applications are complete and if the properties meet the criteria set forth in WAC 254-20-070(1) and AMC 17.50.060(C).

a. If the Commission determines that a property meets all the criteria it shall approve the application subject to execution of a Historic Preservation Special Valuation Agreement between the Commission, acting on behalf of the city, and the owner as provided in WAC 254-20-120 and AMC 17.50.060(D).

b. If the Commission determines that a property does not meet all the criteria, then it shall deny the application.

2. The Commission shall issue its decision in writing stating the facts and conclusions upon which the approvals or denials are based. Copies of the Commission’s decisions shall be filed with the Assessor and the state review board and shall include copies of the agreements, applications and supporting documentation as required by WAC 254-20-090(4) and AMC 17.50.060(C)

3. The Commission shall monitor approved properties for continued compliance with the agreements throughout the 10-year special valuation period.

1. Historic Property Criteria. The class of historic property eligible to apply for Special Valuation means all properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places or certified as contributing to a National Register Historic District which have been substantially rehabilitated at a cost and within a time period which meets the requirements set forth in Chapter 84.26 RCW, until the city becomes a Certified Local Government (CLG). The class of property eligible to apply for Special Valuation after the city becomes a CLG shall be limited to property listed on the city’s Historic Register which have been substantially rehabilitated at a cost and within a time period which meets the requirements set forth in Chapter 84.26 RCW.

2. Application Criteria. Complete applications shall consist of the following documentation:

a. A legal description of the historic property;

b. Comprehensive exterior and interior photographs of the historic property before and after rehabilitation;

c. Architectural plans or other legible drawings depicting the completed rehabilitation work;

d. A notarized affidavit attesting to the actual cost of the rehabilitation work completed prior to the date of application and the period of time during which the work was performed and documentation of both to be made available to the Commission upon request; and

e. For properties located within historic districts, in addition to the standard application documentation, a statement from the Secretary of the Interior or appropriate local official, as specified in local administrative rules or by the local government, indicating the property is a certified historic structure is required.

3. Property Review Criteria. In its review the Commission shall determine if the properties meet all the following criteria:

a. The property is historic property;

b. The property is included within a class of historic property determined eligible for Special Valuation by the city under AMC 17.50.040;

c. The property has been rehabilitated at a cost which meets the definition set forth in RCW 84.26.020(2) and in AMC 17.50.020(I) within twenty-four months prior to the date of application; and

d. The property has not been altered in any way which adversely affects those elements which qualify it as historically significant as determined by applying the Washington State Advisory Council’s Standards for the Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Historic Properties under WAC 254-20-100(1) and AMC 17.50.060(4).

4. Rehabilitation and Maintenance Criteria. The Washington State Advisory Council’s Standards for the Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Historic Properties in WAC 254-20-100 shall be used by the Commission as minimum requirements for determining whether or not an historic property is eligible for special valuation and whether or not the property continues to be eligible for special valuation once it has been so classified.

D. Agreement. The historic preservation special valuation agreement in WAC 254-20-120 shall be used by the Commission as the minimum agreement necessary to comply with the requirements of RCW 84.26.050(2).