Apartment development proposal for site delayed

The Bloomington Plan Commission considered a new a potentially new student housing development in the downtown area Monday. The new development would 6.6 acres and would feature 99 multi-person units. It was proposed by Westwood Bloomington LLC. The development would be built on a plot at 300 W. 11th St.\nSome commission members discovered a few major -- yet fixable -- problems with Westwood's plan proposal. Other commission members had concerns that the proposal generally conflicted with Bloomington's own Growth Policy Plan, and possibly its Downtown Plan -- an infant idea still being developed.\n"If you look at the city growth policy plan, and what it says about mixed-use development, there are conflicts (with the proposal)," City planner Tom Micuda said. \nThe city growth policy plan, written and adopted in 2002, outlines Bloomington's goals for the next 25 years. One specific plan objective calls for developing mixed-use neighborhoods that offer social interaction as well as the option of neighborhood resources. A mixed-use neighborhood offers a variety of community services to Bloomington residents and IU students, such as dining opportunities, small business services and various housing options.\nThe plan also includes the goal of developing and maintaining a thriving city center that offers diverse housing accommodations, specialized shopping, community-centered activities and varying entertainment choices. \nCommission member Pat Williams said the new proposal for the new apartment development may conflict with provisions in the city's growth plan. \n"The plan calls for diversity in the downtown market," Williams said. "This proposal is another high-density apartment complex geared to students." \nWilliams also questioned how the development would impact existing businesses besides bars and restaurants.\nThe commission's main logistical concern is extending Morton St. further north to increase conductivity downtown, Micuda said. \nA Westwood representative said issues such as the conductivity problem would be resolved in a new plan for the development that would be turned in to the commission within the next 30 days.\nMicuda said it is unclear when the commission would rule on the development, but a decision may be made at the next commission meeting February 7.\n-- Contact City & State Editor Mike Wilson at mhwilson@indiana.edu