By Philip Haldiman | Your Valley
The Peoria City Council did something rare at its Nov. 9 meeting — councilors voted not to follow the recommendation from the planning and zoning commission for a new project in the downtown area.
The cases at issue would have allowed for Grand Commons — a new project that initially proposed commercial and multifamily on 7.5 acres at the former Smitty’s property on Grand Avenue near 85th Avenue — to be exclusively multifamily.
Most of the council did not like giving up commercial on a major arterial frontage, which is a potential income opportunity for Peoria.
The council voted down an amendment to the Old Town Specific Area Plan from flex mixed-use to Old Town high-density residential; and a rezoning from central commercial (C-3) to the proposed Grand Commons planned area development.
