The East Peoria City Council is finalizing a redevelopment agreement that will bring a new $13 million hotel to the riverfront.
The Hilton Hampton Inn will be built on land near the former Granite City restaurant and the Bob Michel Bridge.
"This building of this hotel, and that space, will be an asset to the city," said commissioner Mark Hill. "And as well, they'll keep a Hampton Inn property in within the city, which we've always had."
The current Hampton Inn is located off N. Main St. near the Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino.
The new hotel development will offer 90 to 120 new beds. The city of East Peoria is giving the land to developer Frontier Hospitality. The hotel will also be eligible for tax incentives.
A previous effort to bring apartments to the space fell through.
"We've looked at a lot of things on that property over the years, and it's nice to have something built and be a benefit to the community and to that area," said commissioner Dan Decker.
City council rejects bringing term limits question to voters
East Peoria voters won't see a term limits referendum on their ballots next April 1.
The city council voted 4 to 1 to reject the proposal from commissioner Mike Sutherland.
He says getting new blood on the council a little more often might invigorate higher voter interest in local elections.
"I've ran into a lot of problems dealing with the counties and the cities, not just this one, but all around us. And it just seems like when you're entrenched like a tick, you're entrenched," he said.
But Mayor John Kahl says he's never heard a member of the public ask for a term limits referendum in nearly 10 years of serving on the East Peoria city council.
"If the people speak, and that's what they want to see, let them bring that forward. I don't think it's any place for an elected person to bring that forward when they have every right and they should be able to speak for themselves," he said.
Decker, who has served on the city council since 2007, agreed that the referendum wasn't necessary.
"I've always seen us as having term limits. If the residents decide that your term is up, they don't vote for you again. I think we are accountable, especially a situation like this," he said. "Residents can come up to us any meeting and talk to us face to face. They can criticize us. They can praise us. But the residents in East Peoria have been very engaged."
The referendum would have limited commissioners and mayors to three, four-year terms per each elective office. A commissioner who ran for mayor or vice versa might have been able to serve a total of 24 years.
Council moves to rezone former Regions Bank to attract new developments
The East Peoria City Council voted unanimously to approve a first reading of Sam Imiak's request to rezone the former Regions Bank office building at 111 W. Washington St.
Imiak and his company, Imiak Capital, want the zoning changed from B-2, Business District Retail to B-3, Business Service District. The city's zoning code states that the B-3 zoning allows for "certain commercial, wholesale and light industrial uses that are transportation oriented."
The nearby Wendy's fast-food restaurant and Town Centre II are currently zoned B-3.
Decker supported the measure, though not without reservations.
"I am hesitant, though, just because it is such a high valued special piece of property, huge amount of traffic," he said. "I want to make sure that something is there that I think would be good for the community."
Mayor John Kahl echoed that concern, but he said the zoning change could be beneficial for restoring the former bank property at the prominent Four Corners intersection to more active usage.
"Just from my perspective, what we're doing here is allowing the developer a little more latitude than what he has," Kahl said. "I trust that he'll bring something forward. He understands the restrictions that are in place through the special use process, depending on what he intends for that property."
The zoning change comes back to the city council for final approval in two weeks.
