Design and Review Board backs letter of support for Bailey bill on 801 East Main Street

The Design and Review Board voted unanimously July 17 to provide a letter of support for a Bailey bill tax-adjustment application for 801 East Main Street, tax map 9010805001. The motion passed 5-0.

The request was presented by Miss Bethlner on behalf of property owner Red Dirt CC801 LLC. "We do plan to start our renovations starting in September," Bethlner said, and described plans for a storefront-style façade and "we are going to be doing a mural on the front of the building" to incorporate the site’s history. The applicant said the parcel is about 50 years old and sits outside the city’s historic overlay district.

Staff advised the board to support the application. Mr. Phil, a staff member who reviewed the packet, told the board, "we would recommend approval of this request." He noted the property is not within the historic buildings and maintenance overlay but is inside the city of Clifton.

Board members pressed for clarity about how the project would preserve historic character. "I suppose I wondered the Bailey bill normally is to preserve historic structures and facades and the current structure is a leaves a little bit to be desired," said Miss Slice, asking what design elements beyond a mural would be preserved. Bethlner said the brick façade will be retained and that renovations will mimic a tiered storefront look on the flat side of the building to better match downtown frontage.

The board also discussed how the Bailey bill affects taxation and permitting. Members clarified the county-level Bailey bill application affects property taxes assessed by Lawrence County; city business license tax and permitting remain subject to Clifton’s processes and will be addressed through the city permitting process and any renovation loan review.

Mr. Meadows expressed support for reusing an older building near downtown, saying the tax relief could encourage investment. During discussion one board member stated the Bailey bill term is 20 years "what it is," as referenced in the meeting; that duration and other specifics will be determined by Lawrence County during review.

After discussion the board approved a motion directing staff to draft and send a letter of support for the Bailey bill application for 801 East Main Street. The board received no planning director report that evening and adjourned the meeting.

Next steps: the applicant will submit the Bailey bill application to Lawrence County with the board’s letter of support; separate city permitting and renovation-loan reviews will proceed through Clifton’s permitting process.