Council approves amendment to PILOT for Accenture housing project; parcel grows to 6.9 acres, units decline

The Rome Common Council on Sept. 10 approved an amendment to ordinance No. 9648 relating to the payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) pilot agreement with Accenture Housing Development Fund Company Incorporated.

Corporation Counsel Feeney said the property parcel associated with the project is now 6.9 acres — larger than the roughly 4.65 acres on which the original pilot was based — because the development completed a subdivision after SHPO and related reviews. Feeney said the subdivision map is on file with the county.

Feeney and Councilor Anderson explained the PILOT payment is calculated based on the number of units rather than acreage. Feeney said the project’s internal parameters changed during grant and financing work; the parcel increased in acreage while the number of units inside the building decreased.

“If the number of units is being reduced from 55 to 48, it would result in less money being received by the city,” Feeney said in response to Anderson’s questions. Feeney also said the city has previously approved similar waivers and PILOT legislation for other nonprofits or development arrangements, and that each waiver or amendment is brought to council for approval.

The council approved the amendment by unanimous voice vote. The meeting record did not list a roll-call tally. The amendment will change the pilot’s reference parcel and, according to counsel, will reduce annual PILOT receipts from this project because the payment is unit-based.