20-R-15 - Amending the Schertz Main Street Area Preservation Incentive ProgramRESOLUTION NO. 20-R-15
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SCHERTZ, TEXAS AMENDING THE SCHERTZ MAIN STREET AREA
PRESERVATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS,
AND RELATED MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
WHEREAS, The City of Schertz desires to protect, enhance, and preserve the historic resources
and landmarks which represent distinctive elements of Schertz' historic, architectural, economic,
cultural, and social heritage by providing property owners and incentive for protecting their
property; and
WHEREAS, The program is intended to stabilize and improve property values; and
WHEREAS, Foster civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past, and to promote
the use of the historic structures for the culture, education, and general welfare of residents; and
WHEREAS, Strengthen the economy of the city by protecting and enhancing the attractiveness
of the Main Street area to residents and visitors, as well as provide support and stimulus to
businesses; and
WHEREAS, given the aims of the Comprehensive Plan as it relates to Main Street and in
particular the desire to foster commercial development that serves tourists and residents; and
WHEREAS, the Schertz Historic Preservation Committee is recommending amendment to the
program to better achieve the aims outlined above;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SCHERTZ, TEXAS THAT:
Section 1. The City Council hereby amends the Schertz Main Street Area
Preservation Incentive Program as outlined in Exhibit "A" — Schertz Main Street Are Incentive
Program Summary and authorizing the City Manager and City Attorney to amend the grant
agreement accordingly.
Section 2. The recitals contained in the preamble hereof are hereby found to be true,
and such recitals are hereby made a part of this Resolution for all purposes and are adopted as a
part of the judgment and findings of the City Council.
Section 3. All resolutions, or parts thereof, which are in conflict or inconsistent with
any provision of this Resolution are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict, and the
provisions of this Resolution shall be and remain controlling as to the matters resolved herein.
Section 4. This Resolution shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of Texas and the United States of America.
Section 5. If any provision of this Resolution or the application thereof to any person
or circumstance shall be held to be invalid, the remainder of this Resolution and the application
of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall nevertheless be valid, and the City
Council hereby declares that this Resolution would have been enacted without such invalid
provision.
Section 6. It is officially found, determined, and declared that the meeting at which
this Resolution is adopted was open to the public and public notice of the time, place, and subject
matter of the public business to be considered at such meeting, including this Resolution, was
given, all as required by Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended.
Section 7. This Resolution shall be in force and effect from and after its final
passage, and it is so resolved.
PASSED AND ADOPTED, this 4th day of February, 2020.
CITY OF SCHERTZ, TEXAS
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Gu e rez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Brenda Dennis, City Secretary
(CITY SEAL)
Schertz Main Street Area
Preservation Incentive Program
City of Schertz
Section 1.1 Purpose
The City of Schertz finds that promoting the enhancement and perpetuation of structures
of historical importance and significance are necessary to promote the economic, cultural,
educational and general welfare of the public. The area around Main Street in Schertz
once served as commercial and social hub of the community. The City seeks to improve
the image of the area around Main Street through historic restoration and rehabilitation of
structures in the Main Street area to serve as a commercial, social, cultural and tourism
hub of the City. The program is intended to:
a) Protect, enhance, and preserve the historic resources and landmarks which
represent distinctive elements of Schertz' historic, architectural, economic,
cultural, and social heritage by providing property owners and incentive for
protecting their property;
b) Stabilize and improve property values;
c) Foster civic pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past, and to promote
the use of the historic structures for the culture, education, and general welfare of
residents, and:
d) Strengthen the economy of the city by protecting and enhancing the attractiveness
of the Main Street area to residents and visitors, as well as provide support and
stimulus to businesses.
In order to facilitate the preservation of historic structures to promote the economic
vitality of the Main Street area as a tourist destination, the City of Schertz is offering
incentives that will serve to improve existing properties and businesses within this area.
Section 1.2 Administration
The program will be administered by the City of Schertz Building Inspections Division.
Section 1.3 Eligibility Criteria
All of the following eligibility criteria must be met:
a) Structures must have been constructed more than 50 years prior to the date of
application.
b) Property must be located within the Main Street Incentive Area. See attached
map.
c) All taxes and government fees must be current on the property.
Section 1.4 Types of Grant Assistance
Funding for this program is generated by the Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds.
a) Program assistance is available to owners of structures used for commercial
purposes,who make verified exterior improvements (however limited to
comprehensive maintenance and rehabilitation painting, roof, windows,
foundation, fagade restoration including replacing windows, wall repairs,
brick re- pointing, replacing and exposing transom windows; and
improvements necessary to stabilize a structure) consistent with applicable
codes, or who make verified interior improvements to upgrade interior
systems to current building codes (however limited to sanitary sewer lines,
fire, HVAC, insulation, electrical, plumbing, or a combination of interior or
exterior improvements) and which are approved in advance by the Schertz
Historical Preservation Committee and City Council. Grants are available
with a cap of $20,000 per property.
b) Program assistance is available to owners of structures used for residential
who make verified exterior improvements to the roof, foundation, and wall
repairs including brick re- pointing. Grants are available with a cap of $20,000
per property.
c) Grants will not be provided for work already completed or which is begun
prior to approval of the grant application.
d) Funds will be provided on a 50/50 matching basis. In kind contributions may
be counted toward the match requirement.
Section 1.5 Grant Application Procedures
At the start of the fiscal year, the city will promote the amount of funding available.
Applications will be received throughout the fiscal year, subject to the availability of
funds.
a) Property owner submit an application along with any required supporting
documentation (i.e. drawings, total project cost estimate, photographs,
contactor bids, tax certificates, etc.). Applications will be reviewed by the
Building Inspections Staff for completeness.
b) After submittal of a grant request, a preliminary site visit will be made by the
Building Inspections Staff along with the Chairperson of the Schertz
Historical Preservation Committee.
c) Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Schertz Historical
Preservation Committee. The Committee will evaluate the application based
on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The
Committee's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for
review and approval.
d) City Council will decide which entities qualify for assistance based on the
architectural value of their proposed projects to the City of Schertz, the
compatibility of the proposed projects with the Main Street Area, and the cost
effectiveness of the proposed project in relation to the proposed amount of the
grant.
e) The property owner and City will execute a Grant Agreement detailing the
obligations of the grantee, the method and timing of reimbursement, and
outlining the scope of work eligible for reimbursement.
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f) Work must be completed within one year from the date of execution of the
Grant Agreement, however; the Historical Preservation Committee may grant
an extension of up to one year.
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