Why Peoria's council approved new boundary map some say 'hurts the older parts of the city'

Peoria will have a new council district map, one which splits the city's West Bluff neighborhood, much to the chagrin of detractors, who felt the decision came too fast and would hurt older areas of the city.

Meanwhile, councilors approved a new cannabis dispensary near a shopping mall but rejected liquor sales at two South Peoria convenience stores. 

New map approved despite claims it's 'not good government' 

A new City Council district map was approved 9-2 Tuesday night, despite objections by at-large councilmember Beth Jensen and 1st District councilmember Denise Jackson that the map was being approved too soon. 

Jensen said the map, which was a source of controversy for splitting the West Bluff neighborhood between Jackson's district and Chuck Grayeb's 2nd District, was "too significant a decision" to be approved this quickly and was "not good government" on the part of the council. 

Population shifts dictated the 1st, 2nd and 3rd districts had to grow in size to meet legal requirements they be roughly equal in population. 

"I think it hurts the older parts of the city: It is setting us up so the older neighborhoods will have less representation on this council," Jensen said. "Under this proposed map, 10 of the 11 councilmembers can be living north of War Memorial Drive."

Under the new map, parts of District 2 were moved north of War Memorial; three of the five council districts now are bisected by the road.

Residents will continue to elect five members of the council from anywhere in the city for at-large positions — as well as the mayor. Three of the five sitting at-large members live south of War Memorial.

Jackson argued that the council did not listen to the concerns West Bluff residents brought before it two weeks ago and said the council approved this map in "record time." 

More:Why residents on Peoria's West Bluff are concerned by proposed new City Council districts

The rest of the council did not agree. 

Tim Riggenbach, who represents the 3rd District, said this was one of the "cleanest, most easily defined" maps he had ever seen in Peoria. 

At-large councilmember Zach Oyler argued the council had an obligation to constituents to pass the map swiftly. 

"There's probably 10 things I can think of off the top of my head I would like to change about this map, and I'm sure that everyone around this horseshoe can do the same thing," Oyler said. "If we all try to push for those 10 things, we are never actually going to create a map."

He added that members managed to find enough big things they could agree upon in the proposed boundaries.

New cannabis dispensary approved near Northwoods Mall 

A recreational cannabis dispensary was approved for operation at 4600 N. Brandywine Drive, near Northwoods Mall, by the council, despite "no" votes from Jensen and 5th District councilmember Denis Cyr. 

The dispensary will operate near an already existing dispensary at 2301 W. Glen Ave. Ordinarily, state law would require at least 1,500 feet between dispensaries. But that restriction is waived because it falls within an area meeting a separate "social-equity" designation.

Rules for use:Want to use medical or recreational marijuana in Illinois? Here's what you need to know

To be considered a social equity dispensary applicant, the applicant must have 51% ownership of the store and live in an area that is disproportionately affected by the previous illegality of marijuana. City attorney Chrissy Kaputska said most of Peoria falls under that umbrella. 

Other qualifiers to be a social equity dispensary include the applicant having a child or spouse who was arrested or adjudicated on a marijuana-related crime. The dispensary must have 10 full-time employees, with over half of them residing in the disproportionately affected area with a spouse or child arrested or adjudicated for marijuana crimes.  

Jensen still worried there would be too many dispensaries in the area and said she did not want to see it turn into a corridor like those on Knoxville Avenue and University Street where many payday loan operations have located.

Councilmember Andre Allen, whose 4th District is home to both the Glen Avenue dispensary and the Brandywine Drive site, asked Kaputska to work up a possible city ordinance similar to state law on social equity dispensaries. 

"I think we need to follow suit with what other municipalities are doing in the state and add some verbiage to our ordinance to ensure that those who get a designation operate within the spirit of the designation if they decide to sell or transfer their license," Allen said. 

South Peoria liquor licenses shot down by council 

Liquor license requests for N & Out convenience store at 304 S. Western Ave. and its sister store, TNT Outlet at 2203 SW Jefferson Ave., were rejected by the council on 10-1 votes. 

Both stores are owned by Willie and Shonta Simmons. 

Only Allen voted "yes" on both sites, saying he wanted to support entrepreneurship in the area. 

"I do think sometimes we have got to plant that seed in order for entrepreneurship to blossom," Allen said. "I think the Simmons couple could possibly in five years open up a full-fledged grocery store if they see this plan get nourished and watered."

The Peoria Police Department recommended that both sites have their liquor-license requests rejected on the grounds that they both are in areas with high call volume and that liquor could make matters worse.

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"It is about location, location, location, and nowhere in this letter do we reference anything other than that," said Peoria liquor investigator Kevin Slavens.

He also said the recommendation to deny had nothing to do with the owners or store, but was solely based on location. 

Jackson, whose district is home to both stores, said she appreciated what the Simmonses were doing in the 1st District and south side, but she did not believe more liquor sales would be beneficial for the neighborhood. 

"Right now that particular part of the community is extremely vulnerable, and we are trying to look at how we can return Western Avenue to some sort of business district that we once enjoyed," Jackson said.