Bloomington Council freezes airport parking, approves Southtown redevelopment
The Bloomington City Council enacted a one-year moratorium on new airport parking facilities and approved a major redevelopment plan for Southtown Shopping Center at its October 2 meeting. The decisions reflect the council's effort to manage growth strategically rather than react to individual proposals.
The council unanimously enacted a temporary moratorium on new airport parking facilities and launched a comprehensive study to develop consistent city-wide standards. The moratorium prevents the city from accepting new applications for airport parking and halts enforcement actions on existing non-compliant facilities during the study period. Mayor Tim Busse explained the rationale: "We all agreed that's a much better approach than working in a reactive mode and making one-off decisions."
In a separate action, the council approved preliminary and final development plans for Southtown Shopping Center, located at Penn and American boulevards. The project includes a new Dick's House of Sport retail building, an outdoor athletic field, and significant infrastructure improvements such as reconstructed parking areas with enhanced landscaping and lighting. The development also adds pedestrian connections, including improved access to the Orange Line bus rapid transit station.
A key condition of the approval designates a 3-acre parcel at the northwest corner of American and Knox avenues for future high-density residential development. Mayor Busse noted the site's strategic value: "It's a great spot for residential given its proximity to the amenities in the Penn American District and the fact that it's right next to an Orange Line BRT station." This requirement aligns with the Penn American District Plan, which calls for greater development intensity in the area.
The council also began detailed discussions on the 2025 budget, focusing on the Fire Department's request for a $2.1 million increase. The funding would cover firefighter compensation, new hires, and equipment. The city recently received a federal SAFER grant exceeding $6 million, which will allow the expedited hiring of 18 additional full-time firefighters and cover their salaries and benefits for three years. This follows a similar grant received in 2022. The council previously approved an 11.5% preliminary tax levy increase in September to support public safety priorities.
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Votes (3)
Airport Parking Facilities Moratorium and Study
The City Council enacted a temporary moratorium (up to one year) on new airport parking facilities and launched a comprehensive study. The moratorium prevents new applications and enforcement on existing non-compliant facilities. The study aims to address the proliferation of unapproved parking, manage current facilities, and establish consistent city-wide standards for off-airport parking, moving away from reactive, individual decisions.
Southtown Shopping Center Preliminary and Final Development Plans
The Council approved plans for a partial redevelopment of the Southtown Shopping Center. The project includes a new Dick’s House of Sport retail building, an outdoor athletic field, and significant infrastructure upgrades like reconstructed parking areas with improved landscaping and lighting, and enhanced pedestrian connections, including to the Orange Line BRT. A key condition for a C-5 zoned parcel ensures its future use for high-density residential, aligning with the Penn American District Plan.
2025 Budget Discussions - Fire Department
The Council began in-depth discussions on the 2025 Budget, specifically reviewing the Fire Department's request. The department seeks an increase of nearly $2.1 million to cover firefighter compensation, new hires (supported by two federal SAFER grants totaling 36 new full-time positions over two years), and equipment. This budget item aligns with the city's priority of public safety and addresses the need to compensate staff providing essential services.
Notable Quotes (6)
THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO PUT A TEMPORARY PAUSE ON THINGS, DO A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE TOPIC, AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO ADDRESS A VARIETY OF ISSUES IN A COMPREHENSIVE AND CONSISTENT MANNER. WE ALL AGREED THAT’S A MUCH BETTER APPROACH THAN WORKING IN A REACTIVE MODE AND MAKING ONE-OFF DECISIONS.
IT PROHIBITS ANY NEW AIRPORT PARKING FACILITIES WHICH MEANS THE CITY WON’T ACCEPT OR ACT ON ANY APPLICATIONS OR REQUESTS RELATED TO AIRPORT PARKING; AND THE CITY WON’T TAKE ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ON EXISTING AIRPORT PARKING FACILITIES.
AND DURING THE SOUTHTOWN DISCUSSION WE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT LAND USE, DENSITY, AND WHAT THIS PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE COULD OR SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
THAT NORTHWEST CORNER OF AMERICAN AND KNOX IS ZONED C-5 WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF SEEING HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ON THE SITE. IT’S A GREAT SPOT FOR RESIDENTIAL GIVEN IT’S PROXIMITY TO THE AMENITIES IN THE PENN AMERICAN DISTRICT AND THE FACT THAT IT’S RIGHT NEXT TO AN ORANGE LINE BRT STATION.
I’VE TALKED IN THE PAST HOW A GOOD CHUNK OF THAT INCREASE GOES TOWARD COMPENSATING THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THE OUTSTANDING SERVICES THAT BLOOMINGTON RESIDENTS HAVE COME TO EXPECT, AND TOWARD THE CITY PRIORITIES OF PUBLIC SAFETY – POLICE AND FIRE.
THE GRANT OF MORE THAN $6 MILLION WILL ALLOW FOR THE EXPEDITED HIRING OF 18 ADDITIONAL FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERS AND WILL COVER THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR THREE YEARS.
Ordinances & Resolutions (7)
Ongoing plan update for the area immediately adjacent to the airport.
Standards for landscaping and lighting that the reconstructed parking area in Southtown will be brought up to.
Guiding document calling for greater development intensity in the Penn American area.
Plans approved for the partial redevelopment of the Southtown Shopping Center site.
The city's budget proposal for the upcoming year, currently undergoing in-depth discussions.
Fund overviewed by Deputy Finance Officer Kari Carlson during budget discussions.
Grant received by the Bloomington Fire Department to expedite the hiring of 18 additional full-time firefighters for three years, following a similar grant in 2022.
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Other Topics from This Document
Southtown Shopping Center Redevelopment Plans
Proposed 2025 Budget and Fire Department Funding
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