CID Board of Directors meet after Business Loop sales tax passes

The Columbia Business Loop 70 Community Improvement District Board of Directors will meet this morning for the first time following the approval of a half-cent sales tax last week.

The CID sales tax, which is meant to fund improvements to the area in North Columbia, will go into effect on April 1.

The Board of Directors discussed the Loop Survey Data. 65 percent of those surveyed said they visit the Business Loop once a week or more.

Those who do not visit The Loop cited three main reasons: limited retail shops, limited dining, and unattractiveness of the area.

Voters approved the new sales tax earlier this month with a 4-3 vote. CID Executive Director Tom May previously told ABC17 News that the CID has a “big vision” for the Business Loop.

Executive Director Carrie Gartner told ABC 17 the group talked about the planning process, including holding a series of public meetings to ask people how they use the Business Loop and how they’d like to use it in the future.

The board discussed using that information for a consultant that would develop a plan to tackle traffic patterns, beautification, stormwater, etc.