Pre-annexation on council agenda

First Rockford appears intent on moving forward

Sunday, January 15, 2006

By JOHN R. PULLIAM

The Register-Mail

The Galesburg City Council will consider on first reading Tuesday an ordinance to annex the property on the northeast corner of Henderson Street and U.S. 34 to the city. The land outside the city is owned by the Schachtrup family. First Rockford Group wants to buy that land, as well as a house within the city limits, and develop it as a 45-acre commercial and retail center.

Tuesday's council meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall, 55 W. Tompkins St. The meeting was moved from Monday because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Also on first reading Tuesday is an ordinance to rezone the property from R-3A (multi-family), to B-2 (commercial) and B-1, a more restrictive commercial zoning classification.

It's been tough sledding for First Rockford. A large group of residents from the Lincolnshire subdivision signed a petition opposing the rezoning. When the rezoning request originally came before the Plan Commission, it was defeated, 8-0. When the commission was asked to rezone the area where the farmhouse is located, First Rockford had made a number of changes but still failed to receive the commission's recommendation by a vote of 5-3.

When asked Friday if further changes had been made, First Rockford's General Counsel Marc Strauss had little to say.

"I don't know," Strauss said. "I haven't discussed it with Jeff. ... I haven't examined it personally."

Jeff Maresh of First Rockford has made the presentations here. He has referred reporters to Strauss for comment after meetings.

Community Development Director Roy Parkin said no further changes have been made to the site plan since Maresh's Dec. 20 presentation. Parkin said the city sent a draft of the pre-annexation agreement to First Rockford. The pre-annexation agreement will include details for development of the property, including roads, access, zoning and other issues.

Parkin said he hopes First Rockford sends the pre-annexation agreement back in time for action at the City Council's Feb. 6 meeting.

"We've got to have the agreement pretty much in final form by the 18th" of January, Parkin said, to meet certain deadlines.

He said there will be a public hearing on the pre-annexation agreement before the council meeting. The first item of regular business on that agenda will be the pre-annexation agreement, which needs six of the council's eight votes for approval. In an earlier poll of aldermen, five seemed solidly in favor of the shopping center, two opposed, with one undecided.

Alderman Wayne Allen, Ward 6, said Friday he needs more information.

"And I still haven't made up my mind," Allen said. "And I won't until I see the final proposal."

If the pre-annexation agreement is approved, final reading of the annexation ordinance would come later in the meeting. That agreement and rezoning require a simple majority.

If the annexation ordinance is approved, the council would vote on the rezoning, Parkin said.

Among the changes First Rockford offered to make between its first and second appearances before the Plan Commission was to ask for B-2 zoning for the outlots, which are likely to be restaurants. The 200,000-square-foot big-box store, the strip mall and the parking lot would be zoned B-1, a more restrictive business zoning.

Maresh said the berm between the shopping center and Lincolnshire would be moved an additional 11 feet onto First Rockford's property. The berm in front of six houses would be increased in height from 12 to 16 feet.

Still in the plan is one entrance into and out of the shopping center, something that worried Plan Commission members. There also was speculation that First Rockford and Horne Properties, which is developing the Seminary Square Shopping Center, were both attempting to lure a Wal-Mart Supercenter to town, Maresh consistently said First Rockford would go ahead with or without Wal-Mart.

Horne Properties was able to land Wal-Mart and there was a more than three-week period during which Strauss did not return phone calls and e-mails, until Friday. Because the items relating to the shopping center are on the upcoming meeting's agenda, it seems clear First Rockford plans to move forward.

"That's the indication they've given to us," City Manager Gary Goddard said.