AUBURN — The city might have better luck spurring development in the downtown if the threat of higher property taxes didn’t scare off small home and business owners, councilors said Monday.

“We could say that if somebody is willing to invest 10 percent of the value of their home, we would not charge them the taxes on that but we’d acknowledge their investment in the city of Auburn,” Councilor Tizz Crowley said.

A review of downtown development plans inspired a broader discussion at Monday’s council workshop.

Councilors are scheduled to vote Sept. 21 on a Neighborhood Revitalization plan, a compilation of seven previous plans and the Community Development Block Grant five-year plan. Members of a Citizens’ Advisory Committee have been working on drafting the plans.

Planning consultant Frank O’Hara said both plans recommend ways to economically improve three downtown Auburn neighborhoods — New Auburn, Union Street and Court Street,

It recommends new land development guidelines, better use of the city’s federal Community Development Block grant and other money, road changes, parking improvements, new parks and playgrounds, and other projects. Projects are divided into short-term improvements, less-than-five year short-term projects and five-year or longer projects.

A draft of the plan is available at the city’s website.

Councilors said they know that downtown conditions hinge on encouraging new development, and the city should find a way to encourage homeowners and downtown residents to make the kind of improvements that will increase values, for homes and the area.

“Now, as soon as they do anything we send the assessor out and increase their value,” Crowley said.

Mayor Jonathan LaBonte said the city can offer homeowners loans based on the city’s downtown tax incentive revenue, but only the state has the authority to rebate taxes.

He encouraged city staff to talk to downtown homeowners.

“I think follow-up is encouraging staff to talk to property owners who have recently invested or whose buildings could use investment and understand why they invested,” LaBonte said. “Did they sit down with their bankers? Did the bankers say they wouldn’t help?”

Crowley also suggested creating a downtown property maintenance code, but exempting owner-occupied buildings. That would encourage improvements on properties owned by out-of-town or out-of-state landlords.

“Let’s start with something we can manage,” she said.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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