§ 9-1. Findings.

(a) Importance of the York Road Corridor.

(1) The York Road Corridor is a 2-mile long strip of commercial development that serves as a linear collection of at least 3 principal nodes focused on major crossroads intersections (Belvedere Avenue, Woodbourne Avenue, Cold Spring Lane), which serve the local commercial/retail needs of their adjoining neighborhoods to the east and west.

(2) In many ways the York Road market area is now split by the road itself. To the west are very affluent residential neighborhoods with high residential values. To the east are more modest neighborhoods with lower residential values, homeownership rates, and household incomes.

(3) The York Road Corridor can and does serve as a meeting ground for all adjoining neighborhoods and commercial uses that can achieve their highest potential when they appeal to all consumer households.

(b) Needs and opportunities facing the District.

(1) The York Road Corridor and Vision Action Plan of 2015 identified a variety of needs and opportunities facing the York Road Corridor.

(2) According to the Plan:

(i) Household spending within the York Road Market Area is estimated at $265.9 million annually, and spending on food and drink is estimated at $29.9 million. These estimates do not include spending by the area's sizeable student population. It is also estimated that the Area presently captures only 29.8% of that total spending, with the remaining spending going to businesses elsewhere. This disposable income in the local corridor marketplace would be captured within York Road with an expanded mix of appropriate businesses and services to meet the on-going needs of the local community.

(ii) Given its largely built-out nature, the York Road Corridor operates within multiple constraints as regards to the attraction of new commercial/retail development opportunities. In particular, land parcels along York Road are typically small, shallow, and in multiple ownership; arduous assemblage of parcels is typically required to accommodate the needs of many retailers. There are few larger (2+ acre) parcels along York Road, and none are vacant land. Over time the York Road Corridor will manage its real estate resources in such a way that uses along York Road will better serve the Market Area population, by attracting retailers who will serve unmet demand and by upgrading underutilized properties.

(3) Recommendation of the Plan:

Establishment of a York Road Business Improvement District (BID) is recommended as the management entity for the Corridor. In order to advance and ultimately achieve its full potential, the Corridor will profit from active management – a group specifically tasked to supervise day-to-day operations (e.g., sanitation, safety/security), but also tasked with longer-term, strategic efforts such as working with existing businesses to help them succeed, improving the business mix to grow sales, marketing the corridor to new businesses, and capturing real estate development opportunities as they occur. The BID structure (as codified in State of Maryland and Baltimore City authorizing legislation) is focused on commercial issues, deriving its revenues principally from a mandatory assessment on commercial property owners, thus dedicating its attention to improving the Corridor's business environment. The BID will also derive operating revenues from fee-for-service arrangements and grants from City government, foundations, etc., to provide various services that are better delivered locally.

In adopting this Ordinance, the City Council has:

(1) considered the views of the property owners, the retail merchants, the property tenants, and the other members of the business and residential communities within the York Corridor Business Improvement District.

(2) made a determination that the York Corridor Business Improvement District will reflect:

(i) a diverse mix of business properties; and

(ii) a diverse economic, social, and racial mix