At the last City Council meeting, the council approved a new institutional (N-1 zoning) plan for OSF St. Francis Medical Center. Part of the plan called for the future construction of an “energy center,” which is a euphemistic way of saying “industrial power plant.” Power plants are ugly, loud, smelly, and require no small amount of semi-truck traffic to supply. OSF took a look at this power plant and decided the best place for its future construction would be right next to a single-family neighborhood, on the edge of the N-1 zone.
Neighbors were alarmed. They contacted their councilman, rookie Tim Riggenbach, and signed a petition objecting to OSF’s plans to build a power plant next door to their homes. The council, however, approved OSF’s plans anyway and simply received and filed the residents’ petition without comment.
In the Journal Star’s Word on the Street column today, we get a little insight into Riggenbach’s thinking on the matter. It’s not pretty.
Third District City Councilman Timothy Riggenbach hopes opposition to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center’s wishes to someday build an “energy center” in the East Bluff won’t scare off other developers from being transparent in their future plans.
“I would hate to think developers will take the wrong lesson from this,” he said. “We want to encourage as much openness and transparency as we can.[…] If I lived there, I’d rather want to know about it now than have it sprung on me down the road,” Riggenbach said. “We can prepare for (the energy center) and make sure we have the right noise ordinances in place.”
Oh, I see, the neighbors shouldn’t have complained because now it might scare other developers into being less forthcoming in their future plans, is that it? That’s got to make the neighbors feel good. Not only did Riggenbach not support them on the council floor, now he’s publicly taking them to task for giving OSF such a hard time. One wonders what value there is in “openness and transparency” from developers if it doesn’t allow neighbors the opportunity to object to certain plans or negotiate changes.
It sounds like Riggenbach is saying, “Look, neighbors, developers are going to punch you in the stomach and you’re powerless to stop them. Now, do you want to know in advance that they’re going to punch you so you can brace yourself for it, or do you want them to punch you when you’re not looking? Those are your options.” Not an option, apparently, is negotiating a way that the neighbors won’t get punched at all.
If I were Riggenbach, I wouldn’t worry too much about what “lesson” developers take from this episode. I think the lesson was quite clear: The council is going to approve your project no matter how egregious it may be to the surrounding neighborhood. The council has been sending that message to developers for years, so why would they start fretting about it now? Just because of a little petition drive? Pshaw.
The action taken by the Council did not approve any plan for an energy plant, it still has to come before the council when, and if, OSF determine s they want to build one. You call that neighborhood single-family residences? Take a ride someday-still, they (the residents), pardon me, should have a say-so in what goes in there. Let’s not lose sight in what the council did the other night tho.
The East Bluff folks are literally fighting an urban war to reclaim their neighborhood. If Riggenbach is going to represent them in this fashion, may he be a one-term wonder.
Is this to be a peak-shaving plant like the one by Northmoor?
C. J.,
From today’s WOTS:
An energy center serves as a distribution facility for the hospital’s electricity, which is generated by AmerenCILCO.
This won’t be a power plant supplied by coal trucks.
developers know they run the Council. Riggenbach was probably parrotting something he heard one of them say.
I think the city council voted to option C which did include the words “energy plant” – not option B which did not. I’m not even sure that the petition was received and filed – it seems to have been lost in the shuffle. A petition of twenty-five should carry some weight – they are the people affected by the intrusion into the neighborhood. Twenty-five is more than the number of votes that put Mr. Riggenbach in office.
Does this sound like Deja vu when they voted to put in the Midtown Plaza and no matter what the citizens said they got it through anyway and now half of it sits empty? Grant you the energy plant won’t end up empty but the scenario is the same in who gets what they want regardless of the citizenry.
COOL BEANS!!!
Now…… if Peoria City Council had put this much EFFORT into attracting developers earlier, maybe we wouldn’t have to fill that nasty hole downtown with the tax-payers money!
Riggenbach is an idiot. He is going about this the wrong way.
OSF vs. CAT? Anyone care to take that on?
Riggenbach left the Peoria County Board having voted for every spending dollar he could vote for including the musuem and the countys’ to be ill fated ownerwship of it, the $41 million and counting new Bel-Wood to be in heavy competition to the private sector, $190,000 worth of courthouse interior signage when the county has an underfunded 2009 budget, etc.
Plus having been (with 4 other County Board Members) once again back in Washington, D.C. to see what appropriations or stimulus money could be gotten for the underfunded musuem, Bel-Wood, etc.
Not to worry, folks, the 20 year facility sales tax referendum will reap $70 million or more that can’t be spent by the buyer. But it will be spent by the government.
Having eeked out a win, Riggenbach has become very visible for being a rookie on the council with little experience except in the banking industry. He got a write up in Springdale’s newletter for his visit to their board. Did he ever support me in my request to have the two people the County Board appoints to the Springdale Board make at least a yearly personal report to the full County Board on the successes or problems at Springdale? Did he ever visit the Springdale Board during his terms on the County Board seeings how the County Board also finacially supports this cemetery?
No.
Nice, likeable guy though who seldom visits museums, including the existing Lakeview, he says.
Hey, I don’t know Riggenbach personally but I don’t think calling him an idiot is called for.
New Voice- would you call him that to his face or write a letter to him and sign your real name?
That is one thing I hate about these blogs, It’s people like you that feel they can go around insulting people without identifying themselves. You have to wonder who the real idiots are?
I can’t help but wonder is Beth A. is behind all this nastiness. Sounds like she has people working for her next attempt to get elected to some board, any board.
Serenity: I think you are on the wrong track with your comments about Beth A. Care to sign your real name when you are maligning someone’s reputation?
peoriafan,
My humble apologies to Riggenbach. I didn’t mean to call him an ‘idiot,’ as in YOU are an idiot. Maybe ‘ignorant’ would have been better?
Don’t be such a baby, and yes, I would sign my real name on a letter or anything else…I have several times in the past.
Anyway, are you going to discuss the issues or get whiny about someone else’s feelings?
I would let Riggenbach buy me a beer though……………………………
Karrie E. Alms: My apologies. Myself and others have a right not to publish our names. Thank you.
1st It is a power house, It will generate power with diesel generators in case of power outage, testing and could be used for peak shaving and Boilers and coolers, granted ther will not be “coal trucks” but other trucks will suppy needs. In fact the council APPROVED the site and not the final design. So yes there will be a industrial type energy center here.
As for the statement “scare off other developers” is working for the betterment for all and not for just developers what our councilman should do? I for one wanted OSF to work with the neighbors and the hood but they had there plans and we were not part of the plans. This part of there plan was the only sticking point I was aware of and we were swept under the rug. The only protection we were offered by our councilman was a future noise ordinance. If speeking up by residents is a problem for our councilman I guess we need to shut up and take what ever we get.
Indeed we might be powerless aginst the almighty OSF but we have the right to speak up. Bring on all developers to the East Bluff sounds like you can do what you want reguardless of the residents, Midtown plaza is our jewel but hey the devloper got there way. Thanks CJ for this forum.
Serenity: “I can’t help but wonder is Beth A. is behind all this nastiness. Sounds like she has people working for her next attempt to get elected to some board, any board.”
I posted a similar article on my site. Beth Akeson (a person I have met maybe three times in my life) is hardly pulling my strings.
How ironic that someone who is NOT using his/her real name is casting around allegations that there is some sort of whisper campaign going on. The people who signed that petition did just that: They SIGNED THE PETITION. With their REAL names.
Playing devils advocate here…………..
Now I am all for fair play. I greatly sympathize with the people who live on the East Bluff, or any other threatened neighborhoods. I do not agree with the way Riggenbach or the City Council is bulldozing this [or any] plan through. That just seems like business as usual with them.
I also agree that OSF is very good at flexing its muscle, but……………
OSF is expanding; in the city, the many off-sites throughout the area, etc. They may have just instituted a wage freeze, but while CAT is laying off workers by the thousands, OSF isn’t laying anyone off.
When OSF expands, it really does mean area jobs, and I don’t mean 12 full-time and 30 part-time after millions of the tax payers dollars are spent.
Peoriafan is still a wiener.
People can come on here and call Reggenbach an idiot and that’s ok, but God forbid someone would question if Beth Akeson might be involved in anything?
Riggenbach isn’t an idiot. He just isn’t representing his constituents.
As an East Bluff resident, I would have signed the petition had I been asked. I believe that the focus was on getting the signatures of those individuals living the closest to the proposed site. I have met Mr. Riggenbach a few times, attended two meet the candidate nights and did not vote for him. There has to be several choices of location for the “energy center” within the confines of the OSF campus that do not have such an impact on a relatively populated residential area. I was really hoping for better representation and a councilperson who would support the people of the district. I am not one to throw up a “For Sale” sign, but some of the neighbors close to the site have. The East Bluff has many residents who are committed to its survival as a residential neighborhood. Too bad our councilperson does not seem to share that commitment.
Billy et al — It’s funny how when we disagree with a politician, he/she “isn’t representing his/her constituents” but is when we agree with them. I hardly think 25 signatures is an overwhelming indication of any groundswell of support for opposing the issue the Council voted on. Sometimes politicians do what is “right for the community” even though some individuals in their district may have different opinions on the correct action to take. We elect them to make the best decisions they can — taking into account all the information.
If you want to place everything to a referendum then lets change of form of government. Somehow, given how disparaging some speak of the referendum results (again when on the losing side) I don’t think you really want to go there.
I don’t know Mr. Riggenbach at all but don’t feel he’s being given the benefit here by some who are SO quick to come to the defense of their “friends” who are on the council.
Peo Proud:
Granted. But explain to me how putting a power plant right on the edge of an institutional zone adjacent to single-family homes can possibly be defended as “right for the community.”
New Voice: No name-calling, please. You make your points just fine without it.
MiddleAgedWomanBlogging: You and Serenity have absolutely no basis for accusing Beth of being “behind all this nastiness.” If you want to criticize Beth for something she’s actually done that is a matter of public record, be my guest. But Beth has nothing to do with this issue, so quit the rumor-mongering.
O.K……………………….
I’m sorry.
Just high on life I guess.
By the way.
I meant WINNER not WIENER.
One letter type-o.
It will NEVER happen again.
I did not accuse Beth of anything… reread my comment. Frankly, I don’t agree with either scenario. I don’t think it is polite to call anyone an idiot and I don’t have a clue what Beth has to do with this.
Unidentified commenter on a blog: “That is one thing I hate about these blogs, It’s people like you that feel they can go around insulting people without identifying themselves. You have to wonder who the real idiots are?”
Classic. Absolutely classic.
Peo Proud: Read the flippin’ article. He goes on the RECORD telling his constituents that they’re opinion matters less than developers wishes. THAT, sir, is what C.J. and I mean when we say he isn’t representing his constituents. I am fully capable of grasping the concept that people who mean well might have disagreement over policy.
Geez! I apologized already!
The guy [Riggenbach] made a statement to the press that sounded a little…off? I would think that a Peoria City Councilman with a few years political experience would haved phrased his words a little better. Mine was just a gut reaction.
Guess I had better take my own advice. Now mello-out people.
New Voice, you need to get all parties together and have a beer.
I would have signed the petition. That area of the East Bluff is on life support, they deserve better than an energy station.
Billy,
I read (and comprehended the article and his quote) — I guess I just garnered a different perspective from reading it than you did. I think it’s an admirable quality to encourage developers to fully disclose their intentions for a piece of property in advance rather than keeping it secretive and trying to pull a fast one down the line after all the ducks are lined up. At least in part, that is what he is advocating. I think we, and the neighborhood, are better served knowing OSF’s intentions for this property rather than having it sprung on them in future years.
C.J. – I’d argue that if that the decision is appropriate if it enables the development to occur in a manner than minimizes negative externalities. You know, probably better than I, that there are always trade-offs in the development of land in older sections of a community. The key is finding balance – not shutting off all development or allowing all residential to be converted. A healthy employer and medical center can add a lot to the future strength and growth of the neighborhood.
Trade-offs, right. Remember this part of the story?
I guess the “trade-off” in this case is that the neighbors should get the shaft so that nothing obstructs the view of OSF’s precious Milestone project. The people who live there every day are less important than passing motorists who might have their view of the Milestone project blocked. Is that what you mean by “add[ing] a lot to the future strength and growth of the neighborhood”?
Peo Proud, this is bad public policy. There’s no spin that can cover up that fact.
What is more important here? The community at large or a couple dozen homeowners. Come on! Have another cocktail, you citizen activist journalists.
OSF and its expansion is much more important to the community and will benefit the community in more significant ways than keeping a bunch of homeowners happy in there tomato patch and herb garden. Move ’em out and build a buffer.
Lets see. The musuem is bad. The civic center is bad. OSF is bad. Methodist is bad. Sky walks to the civic center are bad. A new hotel is bad. Developers are bad. The city council is bad. Liquor licenses are bad. But wide sidewalks that no one will walk on is good. The PJS is bad. Walmart is bad. Hyvee is bad. Digital billboards are bad.
LOL! There is little good unless citizen activist journalists say it is.
Dominie:
OSF expansion is not the issue, the site for the “Energy Center” is. I gather you would want to live next to a industrial type power plant. I am sure there is homes close to the site you could move right in. Not all of the plans you listed are nessarly bad in concept but the details are another issue. I can’t speak for everyone but I think if they would move it away from the neighborhood like on the corner of Knoxville & Penn, I think we all could live with that much better (sound,traffic ect.)
Expansion of the OSF site is important but the residents and neighborhood is important also.
Billy: give the guy a chance, he is following in some pretty big footstep; and it’s not like he is new in government, been on the County board for quite awhile.