Bloomington City Council members approved an expansion of the Meadowood Retirement Community Wednesday night.
Petitioners requested that the council approve an amendment allowing the retirement community to add an additional story with 15 units onto its existing facility off Tamarack Trail.
They also proposed adding 1.25 acres of land to be rezoned and allowed to hold a total of 75 units.
The proposal also called for the demolition of two homes on North Dunn Street which fall on the Meadowood property. This would allow the community to build 20 additional townhomes on the property’s west side.
A group of residents who live nearby spoke in opposition of those plans, urging the council to preserve the two homes in the historic neighborhood.
Council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith proposed to retain the two homes and remove the approval for the additional townhomes slated for North Dunn. She says she feels the residential area would not be able to sustain the density of the proposed townhomes.
Council President Dorothy Granger says she agrees.
“I hate to lose those homes, and it has really, I don’t care if they’re historical or not," she says. "I hate to see a nice home with all that limestone, just being torn down. They’re quite functional and I don’t think we need to lose them for this project.”
The council voted to pass the amended ordinance by a 6-1 vote. Councilmember Dave Rollo was the only opposing vote.
