West Chester BID Re-authorized through 2020

January 1, 2016 | Malcolm Johnstone

West Chester PA — In a meeting that took place Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 6:00pm at Borough Council Chambers, the West Chester Borough Council unanimously passed an ordinance authorizing a new five-year term for the BID commencing January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2020.

This action came after the 45-day period for BID property owners to object to the Final Plan ended at 5:00pm on Friday, November 6, 2015. There were no objections filed.

BACKGROUND
At a Public Hearing held September 22, 2015 at the Borough of West Chester Municipal Building, the West Chester Borough Council voted to adopt the West Chester BID Preliminary Plan for 2016-2020 as the Final Plan.

This action took place at the request of the West Chester Business Improvement District Board of Directors to extend the West Chester Business Improvement District (BID) for a period to end on December 31, 2020. In accordance with Pennsylvania state law governing special assessment districts and found in P.I. 949 No. 130, the West Chester BID provided a Preliminary Plan of 17 goals with objectives, plus the list of all properties to be assessed, for review and comment. This new plan has an increase of 9-percent rate change from the previous BID.

With the Preliminary Plan adopted as the Final Plan, re-authorization became subject to a negative vote by persons representing ownership of 40% of the properties within the proposed district. Any objections to the Plan or re-establishment of the West Chester BID must have been filed, in writing, by benefited property owners with the Borough Manager, c/o West Chester Borough, 401 E. Gay St., West Chester, PA 19380 by close of business on Friday, November 6, 2015.

Linked below, you will find the Final Downtown West Chester Five Year Plan for 2016-2020. This plan will continue to direct downtown revitalization activities for the BID.