Fee for Mills Act Participants Approved

Claremont’s Mills Act, a program that partners city staff and homeowners in an effort to maintain the city’s historical homes, was amended Tuesday to include a fee that recovers the cost of reviewing applications.

The estimated fee for 2.2 hours would be $217, officials said. The council also approved setting a cap on the fees of $1,500.

The act is a State law that creates a system allowing cities to enter into "historical property" agreements with owners of qualifying historic properties. Homeowners agree to improve older homes but keep the historic features.

Cities have a great deal of leeway in the way they implement the program. Claremont has not only added the fee, but clarified some of the language in its criteria, which Claremont Associate Planner Joanne Hwang said was too vague.

“The current criteria states that a significant improvements to the property must be proposed,” Hwang told the council. “Since it is not clearly defined (that criteria) can be interpreted very subjectively and does not provide a firm guideline.”

The updated requirements will soon be tied to the expected tax savings that property owners will receive for the first 10 years.

“This is a method that is commonly used by other cities who have their own Mills Act programs,” Hwang said.

They will also clarify what types of renovations qualify for the program. Work such as heating and air-conditioning maintenance, pool and spa maintenance, gutter cleaning, room additions would not qualify, Hwang said.

The application package will be updated so that it includes the changes and explains the program’s other provisions, Hwang said.