Summary
To: Historic Preservation Board
From: Cathy DeKarz, Management Analyst
Date: 2/27/2018
______________________________________________________________________
Subject:
Title
Historic Tax Abatement for 251 Pine Road
Summary:
Mr. Robert Barris is the historic property owner of 251 Pine Road in Belleair, and has recently completed a historic construction project on his property which was approved by the Board and the Commission in 2014. As construction was completed in 2016, Mr. Barris has since followed up with his previous actions to seek a Historic Tax Abatement for the project, and is looking to finish that process.
Attached to this item is a completed DOS Tax Abatement Form along with documentation outlining Mr. Barris’s improvements.
Since the Board and the Commission have already approved Mr. Barris’s initial requests for an abatement, the Historic Preservation Board must now determine whether or not Mr. Barris’s DOS forms are properly completed and in compliance with the results of this project.
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Body
Previous Commission Action: In November of 2014, the Historic Preservation Board and the Commission granted a Special Certificate of Appropriateness to Mr. Barris for qualified improvements on his historic property at 251 Pine Road. At that time, the Commission also granted the Town the right to enter into a future covenant for a 100% 10-year tax abatement with Mr. Barris for his proposed improvements.
Background/Problem Discussion: Mr. Barris’s home (251 Pine Road) is a private residence that was originally built in 1927. The property lies between Palmview Avenue and Ponce de Leon Boulevard and is a part of the Belleair Estates subdivision. Striking features of the original home include its Mediterranean Revival style (which had a heavy influence in Florida and Belleair in the 1920s and 1930s), its Stucco exterior, Gable-Hip roof, and red/brown clay/glazed roof tiles.
The recent project on Mr. Barris’s home has (in the opinion of staff) left the original historic integrity of the structure intact. Notable improvements on the property include:
• An addition of a large garage on the front of the home (attached by a porte-cachere and Mediterranean-style spire)
• An addition of a master bedroom suite
• An extension to the existing kitchen to create a great room and family living area
• The creation of a formal foyer and entry area
• Reconstruction of the previous master bedroom to become a master guest room
• Reconstruction of the previous garage to become a cabana
• The upgrade of windows to hurricane grade
• The addition of pillars and fencing around the yard
• The inclusion of travertine pavers for the driveway, extending around the home
• Complete painting and molding replacement to match previous standards
As noted by the “251 Pine Amended Plans” attachment, Mr. Barris did make some minor changes to the original plans that were approved by the Board in 2014. These included an adjustment of the roof tiles to match the existing terra cotta, the adjustment of ancillary roof components (i.e. chimneys) to comply with structural/wind pressure requirements, and the addition of a metal fence and gate around the property.
It is important to again note that all of these changes have previously been approved by the Building Department, the Historic Preservation Board, and the Commission to meet permitting requirements, the US Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and Chapter 1A-38 of the Florida Administrative Code for their compliance with the home’s historic integrity. The Board shall now determine whether the information provided on the DOS forms are in compliance with the scope of work completed.
Expenditure Challenges N/A
Financial Implications: If Mr. Barris is granted a historic tax abatement for the recent improvements on his property, he will receive a 100% abatement on relevant property taxes from 2019 through 2028 (10 years).
Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of sections 1, 2, and 3 of DOS Form No. HR3E101292 for 251 Pine Road.
Proposed Motion I recommend approval of sections 1, 2, and 3 of DOS Form No. HR3E101292 for 251 Pine Road.