A 15- to 20-year plan for Peoria should address strategies to attract the middle class back into the inner city, establish measurable outcomes for its success and continue emphasizing future growth areas.
These were just a few of the many suggestions provided by council members during a lengthy policy session examining a proposed comprehensive plan, which analyzes future land uses and strategic development for the city of Peoria.
The session was highlighted by passionate remarks from 4th District City Councilman Bill Spears, who said any future document for Peoria should better address the flight of the middle class from the East and West bluffs, along with other inner city areas.
Spears questioned whether the plan adequately addressed how the city plans to attract people into subdivisions like Rolling Acres instead of promoting the expansion of northern and northwest growth cells, which are highlighted within it.
“We have to figure out a way to move people back,” Spears said, referring to statistics within the plan showing that Peoria is represented by low- and high-income households, but lacking in middle-income residents. “I think in a comprehensive plan, we should be saying these things.”
Spears also accused the council and the city’s staff of making decisions over the years that have helped drive away the middle class. He provided an example of a resident within his district who moved out because that person did not have a big enough driveway for a boat or an extra vehicle.
“We have to look a different ways of doing things than the same old way . . . that we’ll grow the city to the north and northwest and we’ll make (tax increment financing) districts in the Downtown area and wonder why the middle class left,” Spears said.
Mayor Jim Ardis later defended the growth cells, saying they allow Peorians a choice of schools. The comprehensive plan proposal introduces four planned growth cell areas, including three which geographically extend the residential areas of Far North Peoria closer to Dunlap and into rural Peoria County.
“It’s a positive for Peoria to have (Dunlap ) District 323,” Ardis said. “Seventy percent of the people who go to Dunlap schools live in Peoria. That’s great for us. That’s choice.”
Ardis said education continues to be a major problem for growing the inner city, a problem that might not change for years to come.
“It’s not going to change tomorrow or in five years,” Ardis said. “Hopefully in time, when we do the next comprehensive plan, (the council will be talking about) moving people back in.”
The plan will go back to the planning commission for a public hearing on March 17. The City Council could vote on it by April 13.
Ross Black, assistant director with the Planning & Growth Management Department, said his department will continue to get feedback on the plan and will “make sure we are clear” with how it addresses the redevelopment of the inner city.
“We need to be very clear the existing parts of the city will have as much of a focus if not more of a focus than the new development areas,” Black said.
John Sharp can be reached at 686-3282 or [email protected].
Read the original article from Journal Star.
Distributed via Chicago Press Release Services