[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Putnam as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 7-29-1985 STM]
A. 
Pursuant to Sections 12-65c through 12-65f of Chapter 203 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, the legislative body of the Town of Putnam is authorized to designate any area within the Town as a rehabilitation area for purposes of thereafter acting upon applications by owners of real property within such area for a deferral of any increased assessment attributable to rehabilitation or new construction taking place in such a designated area, and to also set forth certain criteria for eligibility of such an area for consideration for such assessment increase deferral relien.
B. 
It is desirable and in the public interest to so designate a specific area within the Town of Putnam as a rehabilitation area for purposes of Sections 12-65c through 12-65f of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, said area specifically being a certain parcel of land with all buildings and improvements thereon standing located at the corner of Main Street and Pomfret Street in the Town of Putnam and known as the former "Montgomery Wards Building," and as hereinafter more particularly set forth and described.
The following real property, together with all buildings and improvements thereon standing, located at the corner of Pomfret Street and Main Street in the Town of Putnam, County of Windham and State of Connecticut, is hereby designated as a rehabilitation area as provided for, and in accordance with, Sections 12-65c through 12-65f of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended: that certain tract or parcel of land situated at the northwest corner of Main Street and Pomfret Street in the Town of Putnam, County of Windham, and State of Connecticut, with the former Montgomery Ward building, so-called, thereon standing, and bounded and described as follows:
Northerly
by other land of Marion Dozodoy along a common with an adjoining building 98 feet, more or less;
Easterly
by Main Street 54.50 feet, more or less;
Southerly
by Pomfret Street, 119.64 feet; and
Westerly
by Canal Street 50.00 feet, more or less.
In accordance with Section 12-65d of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, the criteria for the eligibility of said property for designation as a rehabilitation area, for purposes of Sections 12-65c through 12-65f, is as follows:
A. 
Said property is presently in a serious state of disrepair as a result of an extensive period of neglect and nonuse and, as such, may have an adverse effect upon the surrounding properties and businesses located thereon.
B. 
The rehabilitation of said property shall require extensive physical and structural repairs and improvements of the building located thereon, which repairs and improvements shall be in conformity with the plan of development for the Town of Putnam and with all applicable local zoning regulations.
C. 
All repairs and improvements which may take place on said premises shall also be in compliance with all applicable local and state building codes and fire codes.
Upon adoption of this article, the Board of Selectmen shall be empowered to hereafter consider and act upon applications by the owner of said area above described, who shall present a plan for the rehabilitation of said premises, and enter into an agreement with such owner deferring any increased assessment of said premises attributable to any rehabilitation or new construction on said premises, in accordance with Section 12-65e of the Connecticut General Statutes.
[Adopted 2-4-2002; amended in its entirety 9-7-2021[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This amendment provided an effective date of 10-7-2021.
A. 
Pursuant to Sections 12-65(c) through 12-65(f) of Chapter 203 of the Connecticut General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, as amended; the legislative body of the Town of Putnam is authorized to designate areas within the Town as rehabilitation areas eligible for deferrals in the increase of property tax assessments resulting from investments in property rehabilitation in designated rehabilitation areas, and to also set forth certain criteria for eligibility of such areas for assessment increase deferrals; and
B. 
It is desirable and in the public interest to adopt Rehabilitation Area Program guidelines to assure the consistent application of program criteria and an equitable opportunity for any eligible property owner to participate.
The real properties shown at Exhibit A[1] as included within the Putnam Rehabilitation Area are hereby designated as being in a rehabilitation area as provided for, and in accordance with, Sections 12-65(c) through 12-65(f) of the Connecticut General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, as amended, together with all structures or facilities appurtenant thereto, located in the Town of Putnam, County of Windham and State of Connecticut.
[1]
Editor's Note: Exhibit A is on file in the Town offices. A portion is included in § 118-10 below.
In accordance with Section 12-65(d) of the Connecticut General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, as amended, the criteria for the eligibility of said properties for inclusion in the Rehabilitation Area Program are as follows:
A. 
Said properties are presently deteriorating, substandard or detrimental to the safety, health, welfare or general economic well-being of the community.
B. 
The rehabilitation of said properties requires significant physical and/or structural repairs and improvements of the structures or facilities appurtenant thereto, which repairs and improvements shall be in conformity with the plan of development for the Town of Putnam and with all applicable local zoning regulations.
C. 
All repairs and improvements which may take place on said properties shall be in compliance with all applicable local and state building codes and fire codes.
D. 
The value of the proposed property improvement, as determined by the Town's Building Official, shall exceed $20,000.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
GENERAL MAINTENANCE or MINOR REPAIRS
Physical and/or structural repairs and improvements not expected to increase the assessed value of existing structures or facilities appurtenant thereto; general maintenance or minor repairs shall not be eligible for a rehabilitation area agreement unless such repairs and improvements represent less than 50% of the value of property improvements proposed in a rehabilitation plan.
IMPROVEMENT OR REPAIR OF A STRUCTURE OR FACILITIES APPURTENANT THERETO
Significant physical and/or structural repairs and improvements expected to increase the assessed value of existing structures or facilities appurtenant thereto such as the replacement of roofs, the improvement of exterior facades, including windows, doors and siding, the installation of exterior fixtures, including fencing, signage, lighting and curbing for landscaped areas. Improvement or repair of a structure or facilities appurtenant thereto shall not mean the construction of a new structure unless such structure is determined by the Town's zoning and building officials to be an addition to an existing structure or a comparably sized (within 50%) replacement of a structure of the same use which has been demolished.
Upon adoption of this article, the Board of Selectmen shall be empowered to consider and act upon individual applications by property owners who present rehabilitation plans to the Board of Selectmen, and the Board of Selectmen may enter into rehabilitation area agreements with such owners deferring any increased assessment attributable to the improvement or repair of a structure or facilities appurtenant thereto, exclusive of general maintenance or minor repairs, in accordance with Section 12-65(e) of the Connecticut General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, and as hereafter described.
A. 
Rehabilitation plans shall be reviewed and recommended by the Town's zoning and building officials prior to referral to the Board of Selectmen.
B. 
Agreements shall be contingent upon the continued use of the property for the purposes specified in the agreement and shall be for a period not to exceed 11 years from the date of completion of such rehabilitation, which shall be within seven years of the date of the agreement.
C. 
For the first year following completion of such rehabilitation, the full increased assessment attributable to property improvements made after the date of agreement shall be deferred; the below tax deferral schedule shall be incorporated into each agreement.
Incremental Amount to be Taxed for Indicated Property Improvement Values
Year
$20,000 to $49,999
$50,000 to $99,999
$100,000 or Higher
1
0%
0%
0%
2
10%
10%
10%
3
20%
20%
20%
4
100%
30%
30%
5
40%
40%
6
50%
50%
7
100%
60%
8
70%
9
80%
10
90%
11
100%
D. 
In the event of a general revaluation in the year in which such rehabilitation is completed resulting in any increase in the assessment on such property, only that portion of the increase resulting from such rehabilitation shall be deferred.
E. 
In the event of a general revaluation in any year after the year in which such rehabilitation is completed, such deferred assessment shall be increased or decreased in proportion to the increase or decrease in the total assessment on such property as a result of such general revaluation.
F. 
A continued deferral in the increase of an assessment shall cease upon the sale or transfer of the property for any other purpose unless the Board of Selectmen shall have consented thereto.
G. 
An agreement may contain such other commitments by the property owner as may be negotiated by the Town.
All of those pieces or parcels of real property located within the territorial limits of the City of Putnam, as heretofore constituted, also known as the "Putnam Special Services District."