RESOLUTION  09-19 , 2009 COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP, HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO

 ESTABLISHING A COLUMBIA TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREA

 WHEREAS, the Ohio Community Reinvestment Area Act (“The Act”), under Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.) Section 3735.65, has authorized counties, with the consent and agreement of affected municipalities and townships therein, to designate areas as Community Reinvestment Areas; and

WHEREAS, Columbia Township Trustees (hereinafter “Trustees”) desire to pursue all reasonable and legitimate incentive measures to assist and encourage development in a specific area of the Township that has not enjoyed reinvestment from remodeling or new construction; and

WHEREAS, The Trustees hereby request the Hamilton County Commissioners to create a Community Reinvestment Area by implementing sections 3735.65 through 3735.70 of the Ohio Revised Code to designate “Columbia Township Community Reinvestment Area”; making findings and determinations to establish the eligibility of the area described for designation as a Community Reinvestment Area; and

WHEREAS, a survey of housing as required by Section 3735.66 of the Ohio Revised Code (O.R.C.) has been prepared for the area to be included in the proposed Community Reinvestment Area and is attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A; and

WHEREAS, the maintenance and construction of structures in such area would serve to encourage economic stability, maintain real property values, and generate new employment opportunities; and

WHEREAS, the remodeling of existing structures or the construction of new structures in this Community Reinvestment Area constitutes a public purpose for which real property exemptions may be granted.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees of Columbia Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, for the benefit and welfare of Columbia Township and its citizens that:

 

Section 1:        The area designated as the Columbia Township 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.

Section 2:        Pursuant to O.R.C. Section 3735.66, Columbia Township Community Reinvestment Area, is hereby established in the following general area:

The approximate area for this CRA encompasses the entire jurisdiction of ColumbiaTownship except for the following parcels located in the CampDennison area:

 

52000100010 52000100030
52000100011 52000100009
52000100017 52000100031
52000100027 52000100002
52000100018 52000100033
52000100019 52000100021
52000100005 52001600001
52000100001 52001600003
52000100032 52001600006
52000100028 52001600009
52000100029 52001600013
52000100007 52001600082

 

The above listed parcels are excluded from the Community Reinvestment Area.

Only residential, commercial and industrial properties identified in Section 2 and indicated in Exhibit A are within the Community Reinvestment Area and consistent with the applicable zoning regulations are eligible for incentives granted herein.

Section 3:        All properties identified in Exhibit A are within the designated Community Reinvestment Area are eligible for this incentive. This CRA is a public/private partnership intended to promote and expand conforming uses in the designated area. As part of the CRA, Columbia Township intends to undertake supporting public improvements in the designated area.

If properties within the designated Community Reinvestment Area are consolidated or subdivided, such properties shall continue to be eligible for this incentive.  However, properties outside the designated area shall not be automatically considered part of the CRA designated area, even if consolidated with property previously included within the designated area.

 Section 4A:     Within Columbia Township Community Reinvestment Area, the percentage of tax exemptions on the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from improvements to commercial and industrial real property and the term of those exemptions shall be as follows:

 

Following passage of this resolution by the Board of Trustees and certification of this Community Reinvestment Area by the Ohio Department of Development:

  • The percentage (up to 100%) and term (up to twelve (12) years) for existing commercial or industrial facilities shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis in advance of construction or remodeling and according to the rules outlined in O.R.C. Section 3735.67 through 3735.673, and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $5,000. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction shall be abated for the full twelve year period.
  • The percentage (up to 100%) and term (up to fifteen (15) years) for new commercial or industrial facilities shall be negotiated on a case-by-case basis in advance of construction and according to the rules outlined in O.R.C. Section 3735.67 through 3735.673. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction shall be abated for the full fifteen (15) year period.

Commercial and industrial properties include, but are not limited to, condominium developments, retail properties, office properties, distribution facilities, service facilities, research and development facilities, laboratories, and manufacturing.

The results of the negotiation as approved by the Board shall be set in writing in a Community Reinvestment Area Agreement as outlined by ORC §3735.671

Section 4B:  Within the Columbia Township Community Reinvestment Area, the percentage of tax exemptions on the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from improvements to residential real property and the term on those exemptions shall be negotiated as follows:

Following the passage of this resolution by the Board of Trustees and certification of this Community Reinvestment Area by the Ohio Department of Development:

For residential properties, tax exemptions on the increase in the assessed valuation resulting from improvements as described in O.R.C. Section 3735.67 shall be granted upon proper application by the property owner and certification thereof by the designated housing officer; the percentage and term of those exemptions shall be as follows:

  • Seventy five percent (75%) exemption for a period of ten (10) years for improvements to single family residential properties, and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $2,500. The term for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction shall be one hundred (100%) for ten (10) years.
  • Fifty percent (50%) exemption for a period of ten (10) years for construction of new single family residential properties. The term for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction shall be one hundred (100%) for ten (10) years.
  • Fifty percent (50%) exemption for a period of ten (10) years for improvements to existing multi-family residential properties, and upon which the cost of remodeling is at least $5,000. The term for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified construction shall be one hundred percent (100%) for ten (10) years.

There shall be no exemptions for the construction of new multi-family residential properties.  Multi-family residential properties include any residential property, which contains two (2) to four (4) housing units. Any property containing in excess of four (4) housing units is to be classified as commercial.

Residential applications must be filed with the housing officer no later than six (6) months after construction completion.

If remodeling qualifies for an exemption, during the period of the exemption, a portion of the dollar amount of the increase in market value of the structure shall be exempt from real property taxation.  If new construction qualifies for an exemption, during the period of the exemption, the exempted percentage of the structure shall not be considered an improvement on the land on which it is located for the purpose of real property taxation.

Section 5:        Now therefore, be it resolved that the Board of Trustees recommends to the Hamilton County Commissioners and respectfully requests that the Commissioners establish a Community Reinvestment Area in the form set out in Exhibit A, attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Section 6:        Hamilton County Board of Commissioners acknowledge that the approval of any commercial or industrial agreement in Columbia Township Community Reinvestment Area will first be approved by the Columbia Township Board of Trustees as a condition for the agreement to take effect.  Hamilton County Board of Commissioners also acknowledge that Columbia Township may enter into an agreement with the Mariemont City School District and/or the Cincinnati Public Schools in order to have the Township or a company receiving an incentive through an agreement to compensate the school district for tax revenues that they would have received had the property not been exempted from taxation.