WEST READING, Pa. – West Reading Borough Council is seeking public comment by the end of this month on a preliminary plan for the establishment of a West Reading Business Improvement District (WRBID).

Council held a special meeting Tuesday night for the purpose of a public hearing on the plan, which, if approved, would be in effect for a period of five years from July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2031.

A second public hearing is scheduled on April 22, and affected property owners can also send comments to the borough secretary.

The West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation has been working on putting together a proposal for a WRBID for several years.

Phil Wert, a board member of the foundation, reminded the public attending the hearing that the infrastructure for the Penn Avenue business district took place over 25 years ago. A WRBID was established from 2005 until 2008 but was not renewed when it expired because Wert said there weren’t enough services attached to it and business owners did not believe it was worth the money they were being assessed.

Wert said there was an attempt to begin the process somewhere around 2016, but that was halted over the years businesses were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“By saying that we believe in ourselves, we know what we have, and now it’s time to take it to the next level,” Wert said. “The board feels, and I think a good number of council (members) feel, that we’re ready for that next step. We’re ready for that next natural maturation stage, if you will.”

“We proved to ourselves, we proved to the county, we proved to the region that Penn Ave. and West Reading is the premier downtown location and destination for the county,” he said.

However, Wert warned that with new proposed developments and plans throughout the region, there will be more competition for consumer dollars.

The preliminary plan calls for all commercial properties in the defined business district (in and around the Penn Avenue corridor) to pay $650 per year.

Tax exempt organizations would be exempt from the assessment but would be asked to make an annual payment of $162.50 per year in lieu of assessment.

All services which would be provided by the WRBID would be over and above the municipal services already being provided.

Ashley Dietrich of King’s Auto Repair, 732 Penn Ave., suggested raising taxes by a minimal amount for all property owners throughout the borough so that the whole community would benefit from the business district.

Solicitor Joan London said the additional services such as street scaping and maintenance would not benefit the properties several blocks away from the district.

Dietrich and several other property owners said the borough is already providing the services outlined in the WRBID agreement.

Jacob Daniels, owner of The Gem on Penn at 398 Penn Ave., questioned the fairness of a flat fee for all the properties.

Wert said there are many different formulas used for BID’s throughout the state, but explained some of them can be confusing and complicated and that he believes the flat fee makes the most sense.

But Daniels said he would be concerned about the businesses on the outskirts of the district seeing the same benefits as the businesses in the core of the district.

Wert said services such as marketing would benefit the entire district.

By April 27, the borough plans to mail a final plan to all affected property owners, who would then have 45 days to file objections to the plan.

If more than 40% of the property owners in the district would object, the WRBID would not be established.

If less than 40% oppose the plan, council would consider the adoption of the plan at its June 16 meeting.