Site Plan Approved for Don Sol Restaurant

Effingham City Plan Commission members Tuesday approved a site plan for a Don Sol Mexican restaurant, to be located at 1303 Avenue of Mid-America. 

The restaurant will be located along the south side of Avenue of Mid-America, north of TGI Friday's and displacing the fountain north of Thelma Keller Convention Center. The 6,385 square foot building will feature a pickup window, but not a drive-through lane. 

The Commission voted to recommend the City Council rezone properties at 801,805, 807 and 809 North Keller Drive from R-2 single family residential zoning to B-1 neighborhood shopping district. Some residents who live in Hickory Hills Subdivision, west of those properties, asked what could be developed on the lots if the rezoning is granted. They also said that, if the properties are developed commercially, what provisions could be made so as not to harm their standard of living. Buffers, berms, fencing, plantings and other landscaping were all suggested. The City Council will likely consider the proposed rezoning at their meeting on May 17. 

The Commission recommended the Council approve a plat of Oak Pointe Subdvision so the land north of Kohl's could be developed residentially bordering Lake Pauline. A subdivision plat for the 4th addition to HGI Subdivision, basically the Don Sol site, was also recommended for approval.

The Commission was asked by developer Scott Conant to withdraw his rezoning request for a property near Effingham Country Club and delaying his request for a plat of the property. 

Brian Hayes and Dave Storm were re-elected Plan Commission Chairman and Vice Chairman for another year, and Ken Wohltman was welcomed as a new member of the Commission.