Clarke defends North Central NID, Planning Commission adopts Waterfront plan, West Oak Lane Jazz Festival cancelled, budget landmines

Will North Philadelphia get the city’s next Neighborhood Improvement District? PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey was on hand for a tense and lengthy community meeting about the North Central NID Tuesday night, and reports that NID opponents are suspicious of its structure and the motivation behind its creation. City Council President Darrell Clarke, who proposed the NID, responded to audience questions for the better part of the three-hour meeting. City Council’s Committee on Rules will consider the North Central NID bill on March 13, meanwhile opponents are gathering signatures to kill the bill.

The City Planning Commission unanimously adopted the Master Plan for the Central Delaware at its meeting Tuesday afternoon, reports PlanPhilly’s Kellie Patrick Gates, despite objections of some property owners and last minute wrangling within the Planning Commission. The Master Plan will be integrated into the city’s planning, zoning and policy framework. Next up: a revised zoning overlay for the waterfront.

The West Oak Lane Jazz Festival is over after an 8-year run, NewsWorks reports. The festival received millions in state funding, thanks largely to Rep. Dwight Evans, but did not get any state money this year.

An editorial in today’s Daily News says it’s time for the Mayor and City Council to “get real” about the city’s budget. Today’s piece calls out two of the “land mines” ahead that could lead to higher taxes or deeper cuts: city’s underfunded pension obligations and the school district’s deep deficit. Mayor Nutter will deliver his budget address to City Council Thursday morning.

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