Galesburg aldermen voted 7-0 with one abstention to rezone land at North Seminary Street and Highway 34 to allow for construction of a hotel, some retail space, and owner-occupied duplexes. However, developer Todd Raufeisen must still clear some hurdles before construction can begin.
Mayor Sal Garza pointed out the rezoning of the land is the only thing that was approved.
“At this stage, we weren’t doing the specific review of all the facilities, the locations of them and all of that,” Garza said.
Details still to be worked out include setbacks, landscaping, and other matters related to new construction.
In addition, Raufeisen must finalize the agreement for purchasing about 17 acres of the roughly 27 acre site.
The developer has already agreed to make some changes to the plan. For example, the detention pond will be placed along Highway 34 instead of closer to the neighborhood behind the proposed development. Garza also said it will be a dry basin rather than a filled pond.
The plan has come under close scrutiny and changes have been made to the plan because of opposition from those who live near the site.
