Rockford City Council delays vote on apartment complex, senior living along Garrett Lane

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app

ROCKFORD — City Council members have delayed a vote that would have given developers the go-ahead to build an apartment complex and senior living facility on 19 acres of vacant land along Garrett Lane.

Alderman Tim Durkee said the developer requested the matter to be laid over to a future meeting. It will come back to the City Council in two weeks.

More news: Downtown Rockford YMCA opens two-story addition to keep up with growing membership

Developers are requesting a special-use permit for a 240-unit apartment development and 136-unit senior care facility at 6654 Garrett Lane, which is near Perryville Road north of Target, Home Depot and a residential subdivision.

Supporters of the development say it adds to the city’s property tax base while providing some relief to Rockford’s need for more housing options. Opponents say the apartment complex is too dense of a development to safely coincide with the nearby neighborhood, and it would cause traffic congestion while damaging the value of property in the area.

The city’s Code & Regulation Committee had voted 4-1 on June 24 in support of the development.

The plan from developer Rockford Senior Campus calls for four, three-story structures to be built on 11 of the 19 acres. Each building would have 60 units with underground parking. A clubhouse with a pool would be in the middle of the development with additional parking around it.

The apartment complex would include studio, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments open to all ages at market rates. Rents are expected to be approximately $2,500, the developer previously said.

A senior living facility operated by New Perspective Senior Living would be built in a second phase of construction on the remaining 7 acres. It would include 98 assisted living or independent living apartments and 38 units for people who require memory care for support with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

The land is in the city’s C-1 zoning district, which does not allow for this type of residential development. City Council members must approve a special-use permit for it to go forward.

Developers presented a similar proposal three years ago, but it didn’t earn aldermen’s approval at that time. Rockford Senior Campus returned this year with a tweaked proposal.

The plans drew immediate pushback from residents in neighboring houses, as well as from residents in the nearby Bello Reserve subdivision. Durkee, who represents the ward where the development is pitched, has also been a vocal critic of the project.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas