Abilene Landmarks Commission approves historic tax reduction for 760 Amarillo Street

The Abilene Landmarks Commission approved a historic project tax reduction for a house at 760 Amarillo Street after a staff report and brief discussion.

Kara Velois, a planner for the City of Abilene, told the commission the owners — Valerie and Adam Autry — requested a reduction of $9,478.29 for repairs to the property. "Here is the invoice for the foundation repair and the gutters," Velois said, and she noted the file included before-and-after photos and an aerial and zoning map. Velois identified foundation, gutter and roof repairs among the documented work.

The commission questioned whether awarding tax reductions for completed repairs is typical. A committee member asked, "Is that normally something that this board consider doing a tax reduction based on repairs that have been made?" Velois replied, "It is." The public hearing was opened and closed with no members of the public speaking.

After brief positive comments from commissioners about the appearance of the project, the chair moved to approve the request. Commissioners voted in favor; the meeting record shows verbal "yes" responses and the chair announced the request had been approved. The meeting was adjourned with no further business.

The decision is subject to appeal: the chair outlined that decisions on certificates of appropriateness may be appealed to the planning and zoning commission within 15 days and that historic project tax reduction decisions may be appealed to the city council within 10 days.