Residents, scientists urge Rock Island council to pause Milan Bottoms development over eagles, endangered turtles and wetlands

Dozens of residents, scientists and tribal representatives told the Rock Island City Council that a proposed development near the Milan Bottoms would harm wildlife and wetlands, and asked the council to delay approvals until more field surveys and permitting are completed.

The comments came as the council approved setting a public hearing date for proposed amendments to the Parkway I-280 casino tax-increment financing (TIF) redevelopment plan and debated a right-of-entry agreement that would allow a developer to access the property for due diligence. City staff and the city attorney said wetland conservation can be an allowable TIF expenditure, but councilors tabled a separate motion about site fencing and asked the developer for more information.

Why this matters: The area under discussion is cited by multiple speakers as an important riverine wetland and, they say, the site of a documented communal bald-eagle night roost and nesting habitat for state-listed and federally recognized species. Speakers including wildlife scientists and local residents said the environmental review available to the council is incomplete and that site access or fencing before formal permitting would risk habitat disturbance.

Scientists and local…