Published: November 04, 2008 10:45 pm      

Voters tell RLCD to pursue land development

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Voters in Jefferson and Franklin County sent a clear and strong message to the Rend Lake Conservancy District Tuesday night — pursue development of district land.

In Jefferson County, voters answered the advisory question with 7,309 saying yes to development and 3,639 voting against. In Franklin County, 9,813 voters said yes, and 5,559 no, for a total of 17,122 voting in favor and 9,198 against.

The question asked whether the district should enter into long term leases for the private development of public recreation and commercial facilities such as marinas, restaurants, shops, water park, walking trails, parks, fishing piers, amusement or entertainment amenities and the short-term/long-term leasing of facilities such as cabins, cottages, hotels, condominiums or campgrounds on the unused property at Gun Creek.

The board has been approached by at least two developers interested in the site after RLCD put out for proposals for development in January 2007. There is about 1,000 acres of land that has not been developed in the Gun Creek area, which is located near the Rend Lake Golf Course.

One developer presented a plan in July 2007 that included a combination of residential and recreational development that included condominiums and cottages. The board decided before moving forward with any development, public input would be needed.