Venice Island’s big tank, troublesome youth curfews, Council’s zoning wishlist, SEPTA smart cards wait

Construction of an underground storage basin in Manayunk’s Venice Island is underway, with some demolition and site clearance complete, reports Philly Watersheds. The “big tank” will temporarily hold up to four million gallons of sewer overflow during heavy rainstorms, preventing untreated waste water to overflow into the Schuylkill. An added bonus: new community and recreation facilities will be built on Venice Island to replace the old rec center that was demolished in August. Official groundbreaking for the Venice Island project takes place on November 1.

Nate Berg examines the trouble with youth curfews for The Atlantic Cities, largely focusing on the example of Philadelphia. The biggest problem, according to a researcher quoted, is that curfews don’t necessarily enhance public safety. The fewer people there are in public, on the street, the greater the threat to public safety.

What exactly are City Council’s recommend changes to the proposed zoning code? PlanPhilly’s Jared Brey takes a closer look and finds few surprises. Beyond easy fixes, the unresolved issues include who can/can’t be a Registered Community Organization, the transparency of Community Benefits Agreements, and the regulation of methadone clinics.

SEPTA’s tokens are will soon be quaint relics as “smart cards” loom on the horizon. SEPTA is waiting to award its smart card contract until next month, PlanPhilly reports. The new fare collection system will cost around $100 million and will not be fully operational for a couple of years. Meantime, NewsWorks explains what to do if you get a bum token.

The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest.