Property owner appeals tax-stabilization term; council reiterates assessor coding and permit conditions

Steven Roderick appeared before the Burrillville Town Council on May 28 to appeal the five-year tax-stabilization agreement granted for properties at 1126–1134 South Main Street and to request a 10-year term.

Roderick said he had invested in the properties and believed a 10-year stabilization would better support rehabilitation. He raised concerns he perceived in the assessor’s records and said the tax cards listed the parcels as general commercial. The assessor’s office responded that the state classification code on the tax card is a ‘‘04 combination’’ code, indicating both residential and commercial uses on the same parcel; the assessor’s written response is in the meeting packet.

Town staff and council members explained the council’s prior action granted a five-year stabilization with specified percentage breaks and that the tax stabilization cannot apply to identified residential units; final participation in the tax benefit is contingent on completion of the listed building-permit work and final approvals. The building department’s open permits remain listed as incomplete in the town’s permit system, the clerk noted, and the council said the stabilization’s benefits would not take effect until all conditions in the September 30, 2024 letter are satisfied.

Council members suggested Roderick could reapply for a different tax agreement or request the council consider a longer term at a future public hearing, but the council did not reverse the earlier five-year agreement at the meeting.