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Rock Island staff previews draft land‑purchase and land‑sale policy; public outreach planned
Summary
City staff presented an initial public introduction to a proposed land‑purchase/land‑sale policy that would categorize city‑owned parcels for side‑lot, neighborhood, infill, homestead and long‑term development sales and invited public input before a May vote.
City of Rock Island staff introduced a draft land‑purchase and land‑sale policy and invited public feedback on how the city should categorize and dispose of vacant lots and properties.
Planner Ununice described five proposed categories — side‑lot, neighborhood lot, infill housing lot, homestead (vacant house rehabilitation) and land held for larger future development — and said staff would assign existing city properties to categories once the policy is adopted. The goal, staff said, is transparency in how city‑owned parcels are evaluated and sold, and to preserve opportunities for infill housing and homestead rehabilitation.
Staff emphasized this was an introductory listening session; no vote was requested or taken. Ununice said the city plans additional public meetings and then a staff recommendation to the council; a formal vote on the ordinance is not expected until May. Commissioners asked about the size thresholds that distinguish side‑lot from infill opportunities and about how the policy will be applied to the department’s existing property list.
Next steps: staff will revise materials, hold further public sessions, develop a categorized property list and return to the Planning & Zoning Commission and City Council for formal consideration.
Quote: "If you look at the ordinance here, you can kind of see that what it's what we've set this up to do is just refer outward to policies that could be periodically updated," Ununice said.
