Plan Commission Considers Equity Project

The Effingham City Plan Commission Tuesday considered several matters related to plans by The Equity to build a customer fulfillment center. 

Bruce Vernon of The Equity was present to discuss a proposed rezoning of properties on West Roadway Avenue, and at 800 and 816 North Merchant Street, as well as a vacation of an alley between Merchant Lane and Merchant Street, north of Temple Avenue. 

Commissioners voted to recommend the City Council grant the rezonings from single-family residential to general commercial, and to vacate the alley.

Vernon also requested that the entire 24-acre tract acquired by The Equity along North US Route 45 from Mid America Motorworks be rezoned M-1 light industrial, and the Plan Commission voted to recommend the City Council approve that rezoning, as well.

A site plan of the customer fulfillment center and The Equity's plans for their location north of Temple Avenue and at Merchant Street and Merchant Lane will be presented for approval by the Plan Commission at their May meeting.

The Plan Commission also voted to recommend a rezoning of lots in the first addition to Slavens Ridge Subdivision off North US Route 45, a short distance north of Evergreen Avenue, and voted to recommend the City Council grant a special-use permit for Lakeside EMS to develop their base of operations at 815 South Maple Street. Lakeside's Jerrod Estes said they will be leaving their Sigel location and a location on Section Avenue in Effingham for this new location.

Commissioners approved a site plan for Fox Holler Coffee at 1200 South Banker Street. The coffee sales and roastery operation will be similar to their existing operation in Teutopolis, and will be located in the former Effingham Tire and Auto location. It was shared that the developers have worked with City staff to address eliminating any traffic backups on Banker Street. The developers are beginning work immediately, and hope to have the location in operation by the end of summer.

There was also discussion by commissioners of an amendment to the city code to allow a large ground-mounted solar energy farm. City Planner Greg Koester shared that the City has discussed locating such an operation on the former Hawickhorst Family Trust parcel recently acquired by the City. The matter was recessed until the Plan Commission's May meeting for further discussion.