Normal Town Council

Three-term Normal Town Council member Kathleen Lorenz won’t seek re-election. That creates a second open seat heading into the April 6 election.

The Normal Town Council approved an amendment to various sections of the town zoning code, excluding a restriction on home-based businesses.

Normal Mayor Chris Koos said he intends to withdraw a proposal that would have banned home occupations from allowing customers to come to their home in the town.

The ACLU of Illinois has concerns about implementation of new restrictions on soliciting and unattended property near and in Uptown Station. WGLT asked Mayor Chris Koos about the issue during a Sound Ideas interview.

Violations can escalate from a citation to a ban from the area to arrest. The ordinance states people will be given a chance to comply first and specifies it isn't meant to deny anyone access to public space "solely because the person is homeless."

The proposal calls for a $35 million, 203,000-square-foot building on the Beaufort Street side of Uptown Circle, as well as a $25 million, 126,000-square-foot building on the North Street side.

The revisions are meant to curtail “camping-type activities, excessive amounts of personal property, unattended personal property, storage of personal property on site, blocking of access points and excessive occupation of waiting areas," according to a memo from city staff.

The Town of Normal is looking to strengthen its code of conduct in and around Uptown Station, which has seen an increase in homeless people gathering on the property in recent months.

The two six-story buildings would bring more than 200 apartments to Uptown along with retail and restaurant space.

“My passion for supporting Normal's growth remains as strong as it has ever been, and I'll look forward to continuing to be involved, just not in an elected official capacity,” Byars said in a social media post.