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Columbia County board approves ad valorem rebate for 30-duplex workforce housing project
Summary
The Columbia County economic development board approved a county-only ad valorem tax rebate for a developer proposing 30 duplexes (60 rental doors) after staff said the project meets the county's housing incentive scorecard requirements. The rebate is 95% of the county portion for five years based on an estimated $14 million capital investment.
The Columbia County Economic Development Board on a voice vote approved a developer request for a county-only ad valorem tax rebate to support a 30-duplex (60-door) market-rate rental project.
County economic development staff said the project meets the county's housing-incentive scorecard criteria and that the developer seeks a rebate equal to 95% of the county portion of ad valorem property taxes for five years based on a $14,000,000 capital investment.
Staff described the development as 30 duplexes (60 rental units) to be built as fee-simple, market-rate units (three-bedroom, two-bath floor plans with single-car garages cited in the packet). The developer said the project would provide roughly one year of rental supply (the presenter said the county needs about 60 rental units a year to meet current demand) and that the planned construction would include onsite amenities and nitro-reduction septic systems if public sewer is not yet available.
Board discussion touched on utilities, wetlands mitigation and gopher tortoise relocation costs, and the timing of city sewer construction. Staff said the county can rebate only the portion of property tax levied by the Board of County Commissioners and that companies must request the annual rebate after taxes are assessed. The board asked staff and the developer to confirm site-plan and infrastructure details for follow-up filings.
A motion to approve the incentive package (95% county ad valorem rebate for five years on the $14 million investment) was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; the record shows a unanimous voice "aye" but no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.
The developer and staff said the project requires no HUD or income-restricted subsidy and indicated they plan to replicate similar workforce projects in neighboring counties.
The board also discussed the county's housing-incentive scorecard process (a yes/no checklist that qualifies projects for a graduated rebate based on capital investment) and clarified that the rebate applies only to the county portion of property tax by statute.
Planning and site approvals remain required: staff said planning and zoning review has occurred and the developer will pursue final site-plan approval and any required permits before construction.
The board recorded the motion and carried it by voice vote; staff will process the developer's request per the county rebate procedures once the developer submits the required documentation.
Ending: The developer and county staff agreed to provide additional technical information (final site plan, updated tax estimates, and infrastructure timing) at a future meeting before implementation steps proceed.
