A group of objectors was successful in getting the Peoria County Board to deny a zoning change request Thursday night. The group called Preserve Farmland came to the meeting in full force to support keeping a 70 acre parcel of land zoned Agriculture.
The site is located at Cameron Lane and Smithville Road in Limestone Township. The petitioner, Washington Trails Edge. LLC requested the land to be re-zoned Rural Residential. The developer planned to parcel out 16 large lots for a subdivision. Some were against giving up more prime farmland. Other concerns were brought up over sanitary and water access and runoff. Some say traffic safety was a problem.
County Board Chairman Tom O'Neill says he gave a lot of thought to the plan since the site is in his district. He originaly liked the idea, because of potential income for Limestone Township and the County. But, he voted no because of constituent complaints.
Representative for the petitioner, Devin Birch told the board, if the subdivision was not approved, something, probably homes or other buildings on a smaller scale would be built on the property sooner or later. He says his company already had an exit plan in place in case the vote went down. The petitioner now plans to seperate the property into 4 parcels for future use.
The board vote 17-0 against the plan, despite recommendation by staff and Zoning Board of Appeals to go ahead with the subdivision.
