Council approves new city development

The Bloomington City Council heard two pieces of legislation Wednesday night and had inquiries for petitioners to answer before they take final action. \nMany had questions regarding one development, proposed by L & M Rentals, some of which they want to be resolved before they take final action. \nThe proposed development, a 254-unit rental community on the city's southeast side, which was met with many negative public comments at the plan commission meeting, had no such comments at the council meeting. \nAfter the meeting, Jeff Fanyo, architect and representative of L & M, explained how the petitioners gained the support of the nearby residents.\n"We met with the neighbors in the past few weeks several times," Fanyo said. "We took their ideas and incorporated them into our plans."\nThe other piece of legislation discussed was to designate an Economic Revitalization Area on 1600 Bloomfield Road, a piece of land adjacent to the Bloomington SportsPlex.\nThe ERA designates that the land cannot be developed under normal conditions, and will allow the city to grant a tax abatement on the land, which will house the new headquarters for International Data.\nThe company is known as "a world leader in Fiduciary Transactions, Data Capture and Laborgistics," according to a press release.\nNathan Hadley, economic development assistant for the mayor's office, said he thought this was a good use of the tax abatement, since the job creation would be a long-term benefit which outweighs the short-term loss in taxes. \n"Tax abatement is the tool, and I can't think of a better way to use it then to keep International Data calling Bloomington home," Hadley said.\nJeffrey Willsey, council member, questioned why this land was not susceptible to normal growth, a finding the council has to make every time they designate land as an ERA. \nHadley replied that there were neighboring apartments in disrepair.\nCouncil member David Sabbagh supported the plan, and specifically liked the benefits the company offers to its employees. Employees receive health insurance as well as a 401K plan. \nHe was glad to see a place of employment requesting a tax abatement, rather that the past few abatements, which have been for residential communities. Unlike Willsey, he had no qualms with designating the land as an ERA. \n"It's good to see tax abatement used … to create jobs," Sabbagh said. "I still think we need to do tax abatements for job creation"