Plan Commission Recommends Additional Dwellings Above Commercial Properties

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Published on September 13 2017 4:28 pm
Last Updated on September 13 2017 4:29 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Effingham City Plan Commission members Tuesday received no public comments on a proposed expansion of zoning that would allow residential dwellings above commercial businesses.

The current guidelines allow residential dwellings above B-3 or commercial buildings in the downtown area. City officials have received inquiries about whether such residences should be allowed elsewhere in the city, and no objections have been received. In fact, there were no comments received from the public on the issue during a public hearing before the Plan Commission at Tuesday's meeting.

City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman said the plan is now to also allow dwellings above commercial businesses in the B-1 and B-2 zoning districts.

The Plan Commission also held a public hearing on rezoning properties at 505 W. Shelby and 203 S. Walnut from multiple-family dwelling district to general commercial district. Niebrugge A-1 Furniture, which is next to the properites, is requesting the rezoning. No comments were received from the public on that question, either.

The Commission approved a site plan for A-1 Food Mart on the southwest corner of Fayette and 4th. Heuerman said the store's owners plan to add 1,500 square feet of store space to the east along with a drive-through window.

Commissioners also recommended the City Council approve a plat of the Meijer Effingham Subdivision north of Ford Avenue. A portion of the property will be the site of a Meijer store, while the remainder of the tract will be subdivided into several other lots along Ford Avenue and North Raney Street. Construction of the Meijer store is still projected to begin in the Spring of 2018.