The Peoria City Council approved zoning changes for the River Trail Apartment project last night. The move includes a road connection to Water Street:
The City Council approved the project by a vote of seven to four. The move follows months of opposition from residents saying the project would take up limited green space on land north of the Riverplex along the Illinois River and pose traffic hazards from Water Street. Supporters say that the apartment complex would draw Millennials to the downtown. Councilwoman Beth Jensen says the location isn't a good fit for many young people:
“They don’t like this kind of suburban development that’s not connected to the rest of the city.”
Nearly 40 people made public comments, the majority against the project. City Councilman Ryan Spain says the project is a boost to the downtown:
“We have a lot of people that work down here, we have a lot of visitors to downtown. We don’t have people that live down here.”
The project still needs approval from the state Department of Natural Resources. Details are still getting hammered out for use by the Peoria Boat club on substitute green space along the river.