The Champaign City Council will vote Tuesday night on the relocation of Judah Christian School and the adoption of Champaign’s comprehensive plan. These two issues have been the main topic in the last two weeks’ study sessions.
The relocation of Judah Christian School from its current location on North Prospect to the Jacob’s Landing subdivision at Kirby Avenue and Rising Road was already defeated by the council earlier this year. However, after being discussed at last week’s study session the council seemed to have changed their mind and wanted it to be up for vote on the agenda again tonight.
One of the initial concerns for the council was that the land originally was supposed to be used to build homes on. Judah Christian is a non-profit organization, exempt from paying property tax.
“How can we tell the citizens that we need to cut the budget and funding for all these different things and yet allow this move?” Marci Dodds, District 1 council member, said during last week’s council meeting.
Dodds said an estimated $43,000 would be lost if the school were built on that land.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Members of the Judah Christian community, such as parents and staff, spoke to the council last week about why they thought the city should allow the move.
Tom Bruno, council member at-large, said he voted nay in the past but had become convinced the council should allow the move.
The council will also vote about approving changes to the city’s comprehensive plan. Named Champaign Tomorrow, the comprehensive plan is a document that guides the physical growth and development of the city over the next 20 years. The original plan was adopted in 2002 as an amendment to the 1992 version.
Overall the council seemed happy with the plan during City Planner Lacey Rains Lowe’s presentation two meetings ago.
With the growth of the city’s population, Lowe said the plan includes improvements to neighborhoods, transportation systems, fiscal, social and environmental sustainability and more.
“This plan as a whole is impressive and exciting, and I like that we remain committed to growth as a city,” Dodds said.
The city council will convene Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Champaign City Hall, 102 N. Neil St.
