Rock Island goal: Protect wetlands, develop property

The City of Rock Island is moving forward on an economic development project on 10 acres near Bally’s Quad Cities Casino and Hotel, while also protecting the environment and wildlife in the region. That’s the message Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms and other city officials delivered Friday morning, March 21, during a news conference in […]

The City of Rock Island is moving forward on an economic development project on 10 acres near Bally’s Quad Cities Casino and Hotel, while also protecting the environment and wildlife in the region. That’s the message Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms and other city officials delivered Friday morning, March 21, during a news conference in the Rock Island City Council Chambers at City Hall. The event was held to address concerns centering on plans to economically develop land at the intersection of Illinois 92 and Interstate 280, across from Bally’s.  In recent weeks, environmental activists have protested against the planned development. They say the planned project is next to the Milan Bottoms wetlands, which is a critical eagle habitat. They worry the noise and light pollution from a planned nearby cannabis dispensary and gas station facility will drive away bald eagles and hurt other wildlife. 

Local environmentalists and residents held two “roost-in” gatherings at Milan Bottoms and outside Rock Island City Hall in recent days to express their concerns over the proposed development. The Milan Bottoms sits next to the I-280 west highway. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, nearly 20,000 vehicles travel across the highway daily. “We have heard you and we listen to you. … We have heard the requests for a conservation easement that would prevent any future commercial development in the remaining 528 acres of wetland,” Mr. Thoms said during Friday’s news conference, which attracted more than 30 people. Several of the people at the event were from environmental groups in opposition to the development. During the news conference, the mayor and other city and business officials said that they are trying to balance the city’s need for economic development, while also protecting the local environment. That balance includes:

• Economic development: An economic development project will move forward on the 10-acre site that is not part of the wetlands or in the floodplain. Those 10 acres are part of 538 acres of land that was donated to the city in 2022 by the RiverStone Group. That project – expected to cost $12 million to $15 million – will include a Nature’s Treatment of Illinois (NTI) cannabis dispensary, and a gas station facility that will include 20 gas pumps, 10 diesel pumps and 10 charging stations for electric vehicles. There will also be a mini-mart, according to Jeff Hughbanks, an owner of the A Hana Illowa LLC development company, and the developer of the project. Mr. Hughbanks, who was at Friday’s meeting, said groundbreaking for the development is expected to take place in a few weeks, and the project could be done in a couple of years. He added that NTI has outgrown its current facility in Milan, Illinois, and will be relocating to Rock Island. “We need to expand to serve our customers…. I am here today to tell you we are coming to Rock Island,” he said. The business official added that while NTI will continue to own its current building at 973 Tech Drive, Milan, the cannabis dispensary operations will be moving to the new Rock Island location.
• Protecting the environment: The mayor said that a task force will be formed to provide input on the creation of a conservation easement and Wetlands Management Program. The task force will be made up of members from  local environmental groups, city representatives and other residents. During Friday's meeting, the mayor said Nina Struss and John Duyvejonck would be members of that task force. The easement, which would prohibit development on wetlands, could be ready in 12 months. However, some improvements could be made to the wetlands area, such as walkways for bird watching and a kayak launch. The city council is expected to vote on Monday on a resolution to direct city staff to start the process of creating a conservation easement. “The developer plans to keep the tree line that borders the back portion of the property as a barrier between the facility and the wetlands/wooded area and construct a protective berm. … The Nature’s Treatment cannabis dispensary and gas station will incorporate eco-friendly landscaping,” according to information from the city. City officials on Friday added that a tax increment finance (TIF) district is being expanded to include the wetlands so the city can invest some of the property taxes on preserving and improving the wetlands area.

Mr. Thoms on Friday said the city is now in the process of selling the 10 acres of land to the developer, and no federal funds will be used for the project. “We want to have everybody win on this. ... We must strive to balance the city's need for economic development with environmental conservation,” he added.