Council OKs five-year reauthorization for Westchester Business Improvement District amid objections from some expansion-area property owners

Borough Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance authorizing a five-year reauthorization of the Westchester Business Improvement District, renewing the BID through 2030 and maintaining the current millage rate.

John O'Brien, executive director of the Westchester Business Improvement District (referred to in materials as Downtown Westchester), told council the organization was created in 2000 to revitalize downtown and said the reauthorization would let the BID continue work on cleaning, streetscape improvements, marketing and event promotion. "This plan maintains the millage rate that has been the same for the last 10 years," O'Brien said.

The plan proposes an expansion of the BID footprint to add 85 parcels concentrated on South High Street, East Gay Street and East Market Street. O'Brien told council the proposed expansion produced an overall objection rate of 2.3% across the entire draft district and a 9.5% objection rate for just the 85 parcels proposed for…