BLOOMINGTON - The Main Street Corridor redevelopment plan got a conceptual nod of approval from the Bloomington and Normal city councils during a work session Wednesday night.

Council members liked the idea of a bike path along the seven-mile corridor that stretches from north Normal to south Bloomington - and they even want to extend it throughout the community.

They also want to pursue form-based zoning for the corridor - something that would regulate building forms and styles in addition to usual controls governing the uses of buildings in an area.

But little will happen quickly.

Doug Farr, the Chicago architect hired to develop a plan with input from the community, said it will take 15 to 18 months to get form-based zoning in place for the area.

In the meantime, he suggested continuing a construction moratorium that requires anyone planning a major project along the corridor to have it approved by Farr and the Main Street Commission. It was imposed about a year ago and was set to expire Dec. 31.

While Main Street Commission members - representatives from the five key players financing Farr's study: the city of Bloomington, town of Normal, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University and BroMenn Regional Medical Center - formerly balked at an extension, most council members seemed open to a short extension to allow time to create an interim set of guidelines.

"I'm not opposed to extending a few months," said Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton.

"We have to ease in somehow," said Normal Councilman Jeff Fritzen.

Form-based coding would help the rest of the plan come to fruition.

Farr envisions a grassy median island along some of the corridor with plenty of trees also planted between the curb and the sidewalk.

Buildings would be multistory and often contain multiple uses, such as retail on the bottom and housing on the top floors. The architecture would be appealing to those passing by. Parts of Main Street itself would still have parking on both sides of the street.

A common sign system would be used in both municipalities so visitors would easily know how to get somewhere.

Farr also encouraged council members to consider a trolley system for the corridor in the future.

Normal Councilman Adam Nielsen said he would like to expand the current transit system before considering a trolley - even for the future.

Normal City Manager Mark Peterson said many cities are in the process of developing trolley systems, and others have them in place.

"If it's efficient and convenient, it will be used," he said.

Peterson said there's no federal funding for the project so financing would fall on the shoulders of the communities and developers.

---

Corridor forum

What: Open house to see the revised Main Street Corridor draft plan

When: 7 p.m. Oct. 29

Where: Hansen Center, 300 Beecher St., Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington