PEORIA, Ill. – A group is raising environmental concerns over a proposed TIF district in Peoria’s Warehouse District.
The Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance addressed their concerns over the Distillery TIF district Thursday at the Peoria Public Library.
The alliance says there’s a history of environmental and racial injustice in the area where the proposed district would encompass, that has disproportionately affected minorities.
Joyce Harant of the alliance says they want the Peoria City Council to consider adding and amending language in the proposal to lessen the “environmental burden” in the area.
“This area, where people live, is also designated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Illinois, as an environmental justice area,” Harant said. “Which means special considerations should be given to these geographic areas.”
The alliance wants to see two amendments to the proposal. The first involves not using TIF money on developments that would require water or air pollution permits from the state or federal EPA’s. The other would prevent TIF money from being used by BioUrja to lay a CO2 pipeline.
Harant says the group is not opposed to new developments or TIF districts. When asked, she says the alliance would like to see greenspace developed in the Distillery TIF district. Other alliance members proposed new businesses, such as grocery stores.
A public hearing on the TIF will take place at next week’s Peoria City Council meeting, which Harant says the alliance plans on attending.
Comments