City to help owners of historic homes

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara residents that own historic structures may receive financial or zoning relief incentives from the city to repair and rehabilitate their property.
City Council discussed several possibilities, including adoption of the Mills Act, a property tax reduction program, and zoning or building code relief incentives to encourage owners to invest in their historic buildings and preserve Santa Barbara’s past. The Council unanimously voted to pass those ideas along to the Finance and Ordinance committees for further examination and possible drafting of legislation.

“Anything we can do to give people incentives [to protect historic sites] is so important for the preservation and character of this town,” Councilmember Iya Falcone said. Councilmember Roger Horton, also a founding member of the Pearl Chase Society, agreed, calling the preservation effort “incredibly important.”
The 1972 Mills Act Tax Abatement Program is a state law allowing owners of historic structures to contract with the city to preserve and rehabilitate their property. This results in a substantial reduction in property taxes for those owners, who could use those savings to restore or maintain their buildings.
Contracts would run for 10 years before renewal, and city staff recommended setting a limit of 10 new contracts per year. Designated city landmarks, structures of merit and contributing resources in historic districts are most likely candidates for the program, if adopted, city staff said.
City officials will also consider relaxing zoning codes to allow historic structures located in commercial zones leeway in terms of building use. For example, converting a historic residence to commercial office space may trigger onsite parking regulations, making the project unfeasible, city staff said.
Using alternative building codes, such as the State Historic Building Code, when restoring historic structures will also make preservation efforts easier while maintaining necessary levels of safety, city staff said.
The Finance Committee will examine the monetary impact of the proposed incentives and the Ordinance Committee will give further consideration to developing an ordinance enacting those incentives in the coming weeks.