Vistancia residents tell Peoria council Amcor factory doesn't belong next to homes, school

Dozens of residents urged the Peoria City Council on Aug. 26 to relocate a planned Amcor semiconductor‑related facility away from the Vistancia residential community and a nearby school, raising health, water‑use, zoning and traffic concerns during the meeting’s public‑comment period.

Speakers described fears about so‑called forever chemicals and local drinking water, questioned whether the project fits the area’s planning documents, and asked the city to require stronger water‑reuse systems or move the facility to a more appropriate industrial site such as the Peoria Innovation Corps.

Kathy Bartelheim, who identified herself as a Vistancia resident, told the council, "Do you honestly believe that this huge monstrosity belongs in a residential neighborhood?" and urged elected officials to "relocate Amcor out of Ascencia." Bartelheim and other speakers repeatedly warned about the health risk of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and said two city wells had been taken offline for testing (a statement made during public comment).

Multiple speakers cited the projected size and scale of the facility. Megan Staub said residents had learned in recent months that the Amcor facility would exceed 2 million square feet and reach about 118 feet in height, and that "a significant portion of the land that Amcor will sit on is not zoned for industrial type buildings based on the Loop 303 specific area plan," adding that the Loop 303 plan had been removed from the Vistancia planned community district (PCD) in 2023.

Other residents emphasized quality‑of‑life and safety concerns. Don McCartney described the proposal as a "monstrosity" that would bring truck traffic near schools and parks; Laurie Granger said the lights, noise and added traffic would harm residents who moved to Vistancia for a resort‑style community. Steve Riggins supported the idea of Amcor but said the Vistancia community remained interested and concerned. Edward Molina, speaking in favor of the project, said he was "excited about the potential business tax revenue this is gonna generate."

Speakers also asked for transparency and for the city to hold Amcor contractually to any water‑recycling commitments mentioned in company outreach. Kathy Bartelheim asked whether the city would require Amcor to be "contractually obligated to do what they state they're gonna do" on water reuse; Megan Staub asked that Amcor be required to build a closed‑loop water system.

No formal council action on Amcor was taken at the Aug. 26 meeting. Several residents said they had pressed the city with emails, protests and requests for public meetings; some praised council members who had toured alternative sites or engaged with residents.

What happened next: The council did not vote on zoning or approvals for Amcor at this meeting; several residents said they had heard rumors the city was exploring moving the project to the Peoria Innovation Corps area, a location some residents described as more appropriate for large industrial operations.