We, the undersigned residents of The Grove subdivision and surrounding neighborhoods, respectfully submit this petition to the McLean County Regional Planning Commission, the Bloomington City Council, the Normal Town Council, and the McLean County Board regarding the current draft of the Strategic Land Use Plan.

While we support thoughtful and responsible planning for future growth, we have serious concerns about the proposed designations for southeast Bloomington, which directly affect our community. Our concerns focus on the financial, environmental, and infrastructure implications, as well as the speed at which this process is advancing.

1. Financial Impacts

●       Southeast Bloomington currently lacks adequate water, sewer, and road infrastructure. Extending utilities and upgrading roads will require significant taxpayer investment.

●       Without transparent cost estimates, residents fear these obligations will strain city and county budgets, leading to higher taxes or fees for existing homeowners.

●       We specifically request that the City of Bloomington and McLean County commit to not instituting Special Service Areas (SSAs) or other special taxation mechanisms to fund southeast Bloomington expansion projects.

●       A long-term analysis comparing infill development versus outward expansion has not been provided, leaving financial sustainability in question.

2. Environmental Concerns

●       Portions of southeast Bloomington include floodplains, creeks, and sensitive natural areas. Converting these into dense development risks:

o   Increased stormwater runoff and flooding.

o   Permanent loss of green space and wildlife habitat.

o   Long-term ecological impacts that are costly and often irreversible.

●       The current draft does not adequately explain how these environmental risks will be mitigated.

●       No comprehensive ecological or agricultural study has been conducted, nor has the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) been involved in reviewing or advising on these plans.

3. Infrastructure Limitations

●       Traffic congestion is already a challenge in and around The Grove. Additional growth, without fully funded road improvements and rail grade separation, will worsen safety and access to areas such as Benjamin and Cornerstone schools     .

●       Major projects, such as the Hershey Road extension and overpass, remain unfunded. Advancing development before these projects are secure is premature.

●       We call for mandatory sound and light mitigation measures where new development borders existing neighborhoods, to preserve quality of life.

4. Process Concerns

●       Many residents first learned of this proposal only after the draft was released, leaving little time for meaningful engagement.

●       The adoption timeline feels rushed, with public comment windows and open houses not proportionate to the scale of change being proposed.

●       No townhall meeting has been scheduled with The Grove subdivision, despite it being Bloomington’s largest subdivision and the second greatest source of residential property tax revenue.

●       Given the long-term impacts of this plan, more transparency, outreach, and deliberation are essential before proceeding.

5. Buffer from Industrial Development

●       To preserve residential integrity and property values, we request a minimum one (1) mile buffer be established between any industrial development and all homes within The Grove subdivision, as well as properties owned or developed by The Grove’s developers.

●       This buffer is necessary to protect homeowners from the negative impacts of industrial land use, including noise, truck traffic, emissions, and diminished property values.

Our Requests

We respectfully urge the McLean County Regional Planning Commission and our elected officials to:

• Pause adoption of the plan until a full financial, environmental, and infrastructure impact study is released.
• Extend the public engagement timeline to allow southeast Bloomington residents a fair opportunity to review and respond.
• Prioritize infill development and sustainable growth strategies before committing taxpayer dollars to outward expansion.
• Provide clear cost-benefit comparisons between expansion and reinvestment in existing neighborhoods and infrastructure.
• Commit to not using SSAs or special taxation to fund southeast Bloomington development.
• Require sound and light mitigation measures where new development borders existing neighborhoods.
• Establish a 1-mile industrial buffer around The Grove subdivision and related developer-owned properties.
  Conclusion

As taxpaying homeowners are directly affected by these decisions, we believe Bloomington must grow in a way that is financially responsible, environmentally sustainable, and infrastructure ready. The current draft plan does not meet these standards.

We ask that this process be slowed, that transparency be improved, and that the concerns outlined above be fully addressed before any adoption moves forward.