Bel Air town leaders review proposal to expand historic-preservation tax credit

The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on Sept. 30 reviewed draft ordinance language to let the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) award a 25% tax credit for qualifying restoration work consistent with a structure’s historic period.

Commissioners said the measure is intended to incentivize owners to retain or restore period materials — for example, restoring wood siding that had been covered with vinyl — and to encourage more properties to join the town’s preservation program.

The ordinance package presented to the board includes an amendment to Chapter 50 (Financial Matters) that would authorize the HPC to award a 25% credit, and corresponding changes to Chapter 2-46 (Historic Preservation) that set out application procedures and qualifying criteria. Commissioner Taylor described the change in Chapter 50 as introducing “a new financial authority” and said the enhanced credit would be awarded “based on criteria in Chapter 2-46-6.”

Jeff Campbell, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, told commissioners the HPC considered a two-tier system to reward properties that maintain or revert to period materials and construction techniques. “We have been talking about this for probably about 2 years,” Campbell said, and he told the board the HPC voted unanimously to move the proposal forward. He said the commission intended the criteria to be flexible, allowing the HPC to consider “one or more of the following criteria” rather than requiring every criterion be met.

Lisa Moody, the town finance representative, explained the fiscal estimate included in the packet. She said the town’s historical payments under the existing 10% program total about $38,000 over the referenced period; if the same projects had qualified at 25% instead of 10%, the illustrative increase would be roughly $9,500 in a year (the staff memo labeled that a worst‑case estimate). Moody and Kevin (planning staff) told commissioners the 25% figure represents a worst‑case projection and actual additional annual cost would likely be smaller because not every approved project would qualify for or seek the enhanced credit.

Board members asked staff to refine the draft language and requested follow-up material on how the credit is applied and tracked. Planning staff described the existing practice: applicants provide estimates, projects are approved by the HPC, work is completed, receipts are submitted to planning, and the credit is applied to the owner’s tax bill and carried forward up to five years if unused.

Commissioners and staff said they support the general policy of encouraging preservation while ensuring clarity on criteria and fiscal exposure. The ordinance was introduced for further consideration; no final board vote was recorded at the Sept. 30 work session.