Board of Equalization hears property valuation protests; one case postponed to July 12

The Board of Equalization for York County convened June 28 to hear property valuation protests from residents and property owners. The panel heard multiple cases that included concerns about contamination designations on a warehouse property, homeowners disputing recent spike in dwelling values after recent sales, a rental property’s story classification, and complaints that a college’s newly opened parking and streets altered neighborhood traffic and value.

During the first protest, concerning a storage building at 708 North Platte Avenue (originally filed by Troy Lisonbee), the board heard that an alleged contamination designation limits some uses of the property and that no written EPA documentation was available to the presenter. An assessor and board members said they had not seen sales in that area and recommended obtaining documentation; the board voted to postpone the protest to the July 12 hearing so the owner can produce substantiating paperwork.

Homeowners Diane Lehman and Whitney Langman presented a separate protest for a home on Arbor Court, arguing that a recent purchase price and a set of comparable sales did not justify the assessor’s increased dwelling value. They described the house as a remodeled 1955 dwelling with limited finished basement area and presented several nearby sales they say are more comparable. The assessor and board members explained that valuations are driven by market sales under state guidance and that the assessor’s office may be behind by one to two years as they catch up with remodeling and sales activity. After discussion the assessor recommended retaining the assessed value on the basis of the sale price and available data; a motion to adopt the assessor’s recommendation was moved and seconded and a roll-call vote was taken.

A rental-property protest by Lou Anne, who said she had inherited a rental and asked the board to change the classification from a 1.5-story to a 1-story, resulted in the assessor recommending the corrected classification; changing the classification reduced the building valuation substantially from the previously listed amount. The board adopted the assessor’s recommendation for that correction and notified the owner of appeal avenues if she remained unsatisfied.

Steven Renke testified about the Mahoney House purchase by York College and the college’s installation of a large parking area and street openings. He said the change turned his cul-de-sac into a through street and increased traffic, and he had not received adequate remediation after contacting public works and the mayor. Board members noted that some effects of the street and parking changes may be a city-level matter; they agreed that staff and board members should review aerial maps and the site to evaluate whether the changes should affect assessment.

The board concluded by instructing assessor staff to gather and share the petitioners’ documentation with members and to contact petitioners with the timing for the July 12 hearing. Members noted that if petitioners disagreed with the board decision there remained further administrative appeal options. The meeting was then adjourned.