As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
APPLICANT
The property owner or lessee who initiates the property stabilization
application process.
CERTIFIED MILL BUILDING
Includes those mill buildings designated by the State of
Rhode Island Enterprise Zone Council as a "Certified Mill Building."
CONSTRUCTION
Includes new facilities or the expansion of an existing facility
that exceeds 20% of the existing area of the building.
ENTERPRISE ZONE
Includes those census tracts within the City of Pawtucket
that have been designated by the State of Rhode Island's Enterprise
Zone Council as an enterprise zone under the Council's guidelines.
PROPERTY
Any building or structure used or intended to be used essentially
for offices, manufacturing or commercial enterprises.
SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION
Includes major renovations and/or retrofitting of existing
buildings which increases the total assessed tax value of the property
by more than 25% of the properties' current tax assessment.
The purpose of this ordinance is to encourage
the expansion of businesses, within the City of Pawtucket, by granting
property tax incentives for the substantial renovation or construction
of business or commercial properties, including properties used to
promote travel and tourism, when in conjunction with the construction
or substantial renovation of the business or commercial property,
new jobs are created in the City of Pawtucket for City residents.
The application procedure shall proceed as follows:
A. Business or property owners planning to utilize this
program shall apply for the program prior to or at the same time as
they file for any required building permit(s). The application shall
be submitted on the forms and in the format provided by the Tax Assessor's
office. The application shall also include copies of the certifications
obtained from the Department of Collections and the Director of Building
and Code Enforcement, which are no greater than 30 days old, which
establish that all taxes and fees owing on the property are paid,
and that the building is in conformance with all applicable City and
state zoning, fire and building occupancy codes.
B. Upon receiving an application, the Tax Assessor shall
assess the current value of the property and estimate the improved
value of the property after the proposed renovation or new construction
is complete.
C. Upon the processing of the application, the Tax Assessor
shall notify the business or property owner of the Assessor's approval
or denial of the request and, if denied, the reason for that denial.
D. If the Tax Assessor denies the application, within
30 days of that decision the applicant may appeal the matter to the
City Council for a determination on whether or not the Tax Assessor
should reconsider his decision.
E. If the Tax Assessor's approval is secured, the applicant
will contact the City Clerk and have the matter scheduled on the City
Council's agenda for referral to the City Council Finance Committee.
In the event that Finance Committee approval is secured, the City
Clerk shall have the matter scheduled on the City Council agenda for
a public hearing and publish notice of the scheduled public hearing
at least 10 days prior to the meeting of the City Council in a newspaper
having a general circulation in the City of Pawtucket as is required
by Rhode Island General Laws § 44-5-61.2.
F. If the City Council determines that granting of the
stabilization or exemption for qualifying property will inure to the
benefit of the City of Pawtucket, by reason of the willingness of
the owners to improve existing structures or build new structures,
and that these improvements or buildings will lead to an increase
of jobs for residents in the City of Pawtucket, the City Council may
approve the application after a public hearing on the matter.
G. The period of tax reduction called for in an application
phase-in schedule shall commence immediately following City Council
approval and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the facility.
H. Employment projections, submitted by the business
occupying the qualifying property and approved by the Tax Assessor,
and the estimated value of the improvements on the property, shall
provide the basis for selection of an applicable phase-in schedule
for the first year of tax reduction.