Peoria Standard

City of East Peoria City Council met Aug. 20.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The Honorable John P. Kahl Mayor of the City of East Peoria called the Working Session of the City Council of the City of East Peoria, Illinois to order at 5:00 P.M. with the meeting having been properly noticed. The City Clerk certifies that notice of the meeting was duly served upon Council Members via email on Friday, August 16, 2024 at approximately 3:30 P.M.

Upon the roll being called the following answered present: Mayor John P. Kahl, Commissioners Daniel S. Decker, Seth D. Mingus, and Commissioner Michael L. Sutherland.

Absent: Commissioner Mark E. Hill.

Mayor Kahl explained that the Special Meeting is called for the purpose of discussion on the 2045 Comprehensive Plan Update and stated that no formal action would be taken at the meeting by the City Council. Mayor Kahl introduced Ty Livingston, Director of Planning and Community Development. Director Livingston explained that the comprehensive plan is done around every twenty years, and there is a lot of feedback that comes from the community.

Commissioner Hill entered the meeting at 5:01 pm.

Director Livingston explained about the open outreach meetings and pop-up events that have occurred as well as planned future public outreach.

Director Livingston introduced Kristen Hardin with PGAV Planners LLC, who is helping the city with its comprehensive plan. Ms. Hardin went through a project time line for the 2045 Comprehensive Plan. We are at the halfway point of the process at the scenario planning and development phase – Phase 3. The last phase is the objects & key results. The last phase sets the framework for the comprehensive plan documents. Through the process they have looked at the market trends, existing land uses, etc. with a lot of that work having been completed. She explained that a lot of the housing development in the city has been built some time ago. For sale market trends, there is limited housing. East Peoria has kept up with the area on house sales. There has been an increase in homes between 2012 and 2013. East Peoria has outpaced Tazewell County and the Peoria Metro Area. She explained that there is a need for 5-15 new houses on an annual basis. Housing market demand for today is being driven by preferences by lifestyles and housing choices rather than population growth. Diversified housing is a way to attract population to the city. Multifamily home production has not been much except in 2021. She discussed the BluTown development that will come open, but there is some unmet need for multifamily housing. Information on Retail Market trends was presented with much of the development in the last 10-15 years being in the Levee District. Ms. Hardin explained that while people love the levee district, they would like to see more attention for smaller businesses in older to corridors of the city.

Ms. Hardin next discussed Industrial Market trends. She explained that there is low vacancy, and there is a trend for industrial. The industrial users are looking at location, access, and incentives especially for new construction including enterprise zone. She explained the need to figure out the niche here whether it be for smaller footprint users or larger users.

Ms. Hardin explained that there is a 2045 Comprehensive Plan Project website at EastPeoria2045.com. People can learn what a comprehensive plan is and learn how to participate. There have been over 1,000 visits. and the information about the project and website have been on the news. There was a community survey with 451 responses, along with small discussions with city council members and planning and community development.

Ms. Hardin explained that there have been steering committee meetings, an open house, and pop-ups. She highlighted the Open House 1 that occurred on May 16, 2024. She had samples of the engagement board sand ones for the youth. The community survey had some overlap with questions in the open house. Ms. Hardin explained that the feedback resulted in single-family being the most desired and the second most desired is the mixed-use commercial & residential. There was also a commercial development preference for a Main Street type retail like Peoria Heights. Ms. Hardin discussed the stakeholder meetings where different stakeholders in the community were invited.

Ms. Hardin discussed land use and development scenario planning where she and her company work with the city on areas that may have greater changes in the next 20 years. Those are changes and opportunities that the community sees and uses the best practices and expertise of the consultants.

Ms. Hardin next discussed Richland Farms. She discussed the possibility of needing ways to attract new housing or reinvestment in the existing housing. She discussed desires for more programming in the community engagement, enhanced walkability. and public infrastructure improvements. Ms. Hardin explained that focusing on future land use planning scenarios, problem areas, future investments, workforce development programs that help put people in a position so that they can grow as the community grows may be important areas of emphasis. She explained that needs that were discussed by the Richland Farms community were parks and recreation, walkability of the neighborhood, property maintenance, youth programming, and housing maintenance and reinvestment. Mayor Kahl inquired about there being a future meeting in Richland Farms. Director Livingston explained that it is scheduled for September 10, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Ms. Hardin discussed the Four-Corners District commenting on a traffic study that proposed a road diet for the area. She explained that feedback from the public revealed a clear priority where people wanted a more traditional main street area. With the existing right of way, there may issues with redevelopment. She discussed the possibility of working with alternative designs and enhanced visualizations with what those changes can look like. Focusing on the intersection of Main and Washington St and engagement with property owners may be useful. Priorities are rezoning considerations and design character for the Comprehensive Plan, along with alignment with the overlay district, and using some visualizations for the transportation corridors. There was discussion about the Kroger owned properties. Director Livingston commented on people wanting mom and pop shops. There was discussion by city council about the four corners section. Ms. Hardin commented on the possibility of maintaining the block of historic buildings, reinvestment in the grocery store, and making the area more walkable. She gave the example of Perryville, MO, a community that wanted to see a main street like corridor with more sidewalks, mixed use, and housing. She presented visual plans for Perryville, MO that included changes to accomplish a more main street like corridor.

Ms. Hardin explained that the next steps are stakeholder meetings, a Richland Neighborhood pop-up event, an open house #2, and Steering Committee Meeting #4. Director Livingston discussed going to the East Peoria Community High School Civics Class and an opportunity to reach out to the young folks. The class extremely engaged and have different ideas.

Commissioner Mingus inquired about new housing builds. Director Livingston explained that it is around twenty five new starts a year. However, most housing stock is pre-1970s housing. There was a discussion about the school and the decline in population in the high school.

Commissioner Sutherland feels that if you want to bring kids in the school district and bring in families. you need to look at property taxes. He explained that the school districts go to the property cap almost every year. He feels that it is the pensions. Commissioner Sutherland commented on the state not funding schools at 51%. He feels that property taxes are running everyone out of the state, and he feels that families are struggling so they move the smaller communities with lower property taxes. He feels that the four corners district has an issue with parking.

Mayor Kahl asked for any other comments or questions from the City Council. There was no response.

Mayor Kahl asked for any comments from anyone in the audience. Don Norbits, a city resident, came up to the podium asked whether the city has looked a previous comprehensive plans, lessons learned, and whether goals have been accomplished. Mayor Kahl explained that they have looked at the previous plan and looked at opportunities both commercial and residential for land growth with those two areas being south. Mayor Kahl further exlaiend that some things in the comprehensive plan have been accomplished, and the current comprehensive plan is on the website. Mayor Kahl feels that they are doing a good job and engaging the community, and once the plan is adopted, the city needs to follow through on it. Mr. Norbits commented on there being growth opportunities before, and there being issues with being landlocked. Mayor Kahl commented on a solar farm that was approved by Tazewell County that are in the city’s planning boundaries that may limit growth, and there being factors that are outside of the city’s control. Mayor Kahl feels that the state is out of touch with the local governments and makes law that hinders local government. Mr. Norbits commented on the property taxes being held by the city and the schools’ property taxes being around 70% of the total tax bill. Illinois is one of the highest property taxes second to New Jersey. Commissioner Hill explained that the comprehensive plan was referred to when directing the Zoning Board of Appeals when makes recommendation by looking at whether something was consistent with the comprehensive plan. If it was consistent with the comprehensive plan, that supported a business going there. Mayor Kahl expressed the need for elected officials and staff to tie into those goals. Mayor Kahl explained that infrastructure is included in the comprehensive plan.

Mayor Kahl thanked Ms. Hardin for her presentation.

There were no other comments from the public.

Motion by Commissioner Mingus, seconded by Commissioner Decker; Mr. Mayor, I move you that we adjourn the meeting.

Yeas: Commissioners Decker, Hill, Mingus and Sutherland, and Mayor Kahl.

Nays: None.

Mayor Kahl declared the motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 5:51 P.M.

https://www.cityofeastpeoria.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/6862?fileID=35147