Council approves historic-preservation partial tax exemptions for 51 properties; one denied for unaddressed maintenance

Round Rock City Council voted to grant partial tax exemptions to 51 historic properties under the city’s long-standing preservation program and to deny one application after staff and the Historic Preservation Commission found required maintenance and permitting steps were not completed.

Planning staff explained the program — in place since 1982 — exempts 75% of the city portion of property taxes for qualifying properties to encourage reinvestment and preventive maintenance. Staff reported receiving 52 applications for 2025: 12 residential and 39 commercial. The Historic Preservation Commission and staff recommended approval for 51 properties and recommended denial for one because the owner had not applied for a required certificate of appropriateness after prior inspection flagged mismatched lap siding and paint deterioration.

Staff detailed outreach and process: property owners with historic-overlay zoning receive an annual postcard and the department performs inspections; applicants receiving a “needs maintenance” rating can address items by April 30 of the next year to qualify. In this case, staff noted the owner had been informed in 2024 and had not remedied the issues by the inspection window.

No public speakers appeared during the hearing. Councilmember Ortega moved to adopt the ordinance granting exemptions; Councilmember Lee seconded. A roll-call vote recorded "Yes" from Councilmember Lee, Councilmember Flores, Councilmember Ortega, Mayor Pro Tem Stevens, Councilmember Montgomery and Mayor Morgan. The ordinance passed on first reading and the council dispensed with second reading.