Application Fee Established for Mills Act Pilot Program

The City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday to set $1,500 as the application fee for property owners who want to participate in the city's newly established , which seeks to preserve historic architecture in Beverly Hills.

"The city's cost to process each application to the Mills Act Pilot Program would be approximately $15,000 ... which is comparable to other commission-level applications," according to a staff report by Susan Healy Keene, director of community development. "However, establishing a full cost recovery application fee would diminish the value gained from participating in the program and may deter some property owners from applying."

Keene reported that the application fee amounts to 10 percent of the program's total cost to the city. The fee would not be reimbursed if the applicant's property was not accepted into the program.

"To cover the remaining cost of processing applications, the city will need to divert approximately ... $75,000 ... from other programs," the report states.

The Community Development Department will begin accepting applications Jan. 16, Associate Planner Peter Noonan said.

"This is a two-year program through which the city council can enter into Mills Act contracts with up to six property owners," according to the staff report.

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