Craig Parks is a Developer from outside of Marion area is wanting to put in a 156 unit apartment complex at 1310 Norman Road on the west side between Rt 13 and Quail Run in Marion, Il,

The city placed the land into the residential TIF for blighted areas. This was added to the TIF quietly after the TIF was already made by request of Jerry Barrass or Barrass Farms LLC., the landowner that sold to the developer the 36 acres. The City council approved for it to be added in to the already created southeast Residential TIF. This is the only land North of 13 that was added in.

The city had a zoning meeting June 11, where they zoning board held the meeting with knowledge that the call in system did not work (Cody Moake told me they knew at 4:00 it did not work and held the meeting anyway at 5:30) so residence could not call in because of Covid-19 and be informed. Everyone on Quail Run, Browking, Felts Rd are all opposed to the rezoning and building of the complex. Further up Norman rd and in Spring Garden residence are also against to the development. 

This development would add a minimum of 156 extra vehicles on Norman to get into 13 which is already almost impossible to exit. Noise level would increase, safety concerns would go up.

Also, since it is in the TIF schools will be negatively effected. We have talked to superintendents that verify this. The schools will not get fully funded from the tax money not collected. 

There is a Bald Eagles nest adjacent to the property that will be disturbed. The IDNR, Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge, and Sierra Club have all been contacted to help keep the development away from the eagle.

We are also in contact with someone to come out and see if the bats in our area are also on the endangered species list as they are in our neighbor and could also be potentially disturbed by the development.

The same developer is still in legal battle over the development that was built in Carterville.

If you are in agreement of NOT wanting this development to go in please sign and spread the word.