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Richlands council adopts tourism, technology and solar ordinances to boost business incentives
Summary
The council unanimously adopted ordinances creating tourism and technology zones with sliding tax abatements for new businesses and a solar ordinance regulating solar energy systems, aiming to attract business investment.
The Richlands Town Council voted unanimously to adopt three ordinances intended to encourage economic development and regulate solar energy systems.
Council adopted ordinance 0224-1101 creating a tourism zone that offers a sliding business tax abatement for qualifying new businesses in their first three years, and ordinance 0224-1102 establishing a technology zone to incentivize technology‑oriented firms to locate in town. Both ordinances had their second readings dispensed by council and were adopted by roll call.
The council also adopted ordinance 2024-11103 concerning solar energy systems after dispensation of the reading. The solar ordinance sets local standards for solar installations; council approved it by unanimous vote.
Why it matters: Council members said the zones are designed to attract new employers and diversify the town’s tax base without reducing revenues from existing businesses. The tourism and technology provisions are targeted at new businesses only; the tourism zone was described in council discussion as a sliding abatement (80% in year one, 60% in year two, 40% in year three for eligible new enterprises).
Votes and next steps: All three ordinances passed on roll call votes. Staff said planning and permitting steps and program details will follow as implementation work continues.
