Howard County officials are considering proposals designed to boost relief to business and property owners after the deadly flash flood that swept through old Ellicott City three months ago.

The County Council is slated to formally introduce measures during a legislative session Wednesday.

One proposal, dubbed the Ellicott City Strong Tax Credit, would make up to a total of $200,000 available over two years in the form of tax credits to owners of residential properties to cover costs for repairing, restoring or redeveloping property.

The tax credit would apply only to those who own residential property in the historic district that suffered flood or sewage damage because of the July storm.

Property owners would be eligible to apply for one tax credit per year.

Council Chairman Calvin Ball proposed the measure with Councilman Jon Weinstein, who represents Elliott City, as co-sponsor.

Ball called the measure “one more way that we can help ease the financial burden for the many residential owners who are continuing to clean up from the devastating flood.”

Another county measure would allow officials to approve minor changes to historic buildings without formal approval of the county's Historic Preservation Commission, an advisory body that reviews changes to historic structures.

County Executive Allan H. Kittleman proposed this bill, saying it would eliminate red tape as building owners rebuild and repair old Ellicott City.

If passed by the council, the measure would reduce the waiting period for approval from up to two months to around two weeks.

“We have an opportunity to eliminate some of the red tape while, at the same time, respect the historic designation of these buildings,” Kittleman said in a statement.

The commission, which will still approve major changes to historic structures, reviews applications for changes based on the historic significance of structures, their relationship to the surrounding area and overall compatibility with the historic mill town, which was founded in the 1770s.

The faster approval process would apply to signage and repairs of destroyed materials such as windows, doors and railings, painting, lights and mailboxes.

The measure also expands tax credits for spending that restores or preserves eligible historic properties. The change would give property tax credits to cover roughly 25 percent of eligible expenses, but only applies to expenses $500 or greater.

Allan Shad, chairman of the Historic Preservation Commission, said his organization supports streamlining the process for minor changes.

“The new process will avoid lengthy timelines for property owners making minor changes that comply with the historic district guidelines and will aid the recovery and reconstruction,” Shad said.

In addition to those two measures, the County Council is also calling on state legislators to expand tax credits for commercial property owners. Laws currently allow local jurisdictions to grant property tax credits for those impacted by floods, but is limited to residential property owners.

“The harm to commercial property was so massive … that repair, rehabilitation, restoration and redevelopment will be challenging — not to mention it will likely pose many obstacles, be exceedingly expensive and time-consuming.” wrote Ball in letter last week to members of the county delegation to Annapolis.

The historic district is scheduled to open to the public Thursday for the first time since the flood, which affected 90 businesses and displaced 190 residents.

Several businesses, such as the Judge's Bench pub and Su Casa, a furniture store, have already reopened.