Big Night for City Plan Commission

Four subdivision plats, two site plans and five public hearings; it was a full agenda for the Effingham City Plan Commission Tuesday.

Much of the work involved an expansion of a pre-fabricated wall and panel manufacturing business on the city's north side.

Owner Brad Voyles said the plan is to expand the existing operation. Voyles said he has acquired some adjoining property that could house storage buildings. He said two smaller office buildings could be constructed for prospective occupants.

The property involved must be rezoned from general commercial to planned office and light industrial zone. The rezoning was the reason for a public hearing on the project. The City's building code must also be rezoned to allow the operation in a POM zone. Still another item involved a plat of the property for the planned expansion of the business and development of the property. All were approved, or recommended for approval by the City Council, who has the final word on rezonings and plats.

The Commission approved a site plan of an expansion at Northside Ford. The project involves a 3,100 square foot expansion on the west side of the dealership for more showroom space and a 3,200 square foot addition to a used vehicle sales building along Ford Avenue for oil changes and other maintenance service.

Approval was given to a text amendment in the Zoning Ordinance allowing use of a garage and locating an office at Austin Mansion. Owner Billi Jansen now operates her office out of her Walnut Street Weddings building.

The Commission approved a site plan for a City maintenance facility on Eiche Avenue next to the main maintenance building there and also approved a rezoning there to allow space for the building. Also approved was a plat of WWTP Subdivision. WWTP stands for Waste Water Treatment Plant, which is next door to the building site. Also approved was a rezoning that would allow developer Scott Conant to offer different dwellings in parts of Prairie Ace Estates near Effingham Country Club. The change would allow single family homes, single family attached dwellings and multi-family dwellings. The Commission also approved a plat of the changes.

The Commission also approved a replat of the land on the southeast corner of Henrietta and Jefferson from one lot into two and appropriate utilities to serve both of the lots. The property is known as Buenker-Brummer Subdivision.