Bloomington’s planning commission on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a new multifamily housing development in southeast Bloomington.
Residences at The Links subdivision would be located next to The Links at Ireland Grove golf course off Ballybunion Road and Tullamore Avenue. The commission endorsed rezoning a largely vacant 20-acre property in order to construct 292 upscale housing units, as well as access to nearby roads.
Commissioners said they supported the plan submitted by Green Fairways Development LLC because it bolsters the supply of housing in the community, but asked the developer to produce a traffic study within 30 days.
The commission’s vote was 5-1. Commissioner Jackie Beyer voted against the motion, arguing Unit 5 would have difficulty serving the educational needs of the new residents on an already-strained budget.
“They’re in a financial crisis, I guess you could say. And so I’m concerned that even just to serve the current population is too much of an impact on the total Unit 5 district as a whole, and on the taxpayers,” Beyer said after the meeting.
The proposal will go to the city council for final approval.
OSF convent delayed
A proposal in which OSF St. Joseph Medical Center would modify a residence to serve as a convent was delayed. The home at 3 Moore Road near the hospital would serve as a home for the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George.
The measure faced opposition from a number of nearby residents. Several of them voiced their opposition to the proposal and to the delay. They suggested the convent would not blend in with a residential neighborhood and suggested other locations for the convent.
According to assistant city planner Alissa Pemberton, the shift was caused by OSF’s decision to discuss the matter further both internally and with community members.
The commission will consider the proposal on Jan. 4.
