Zoning Board of Appeals Continues Meeting to August

The Effingham Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday continued a public hearing concerning parking for A-1 Liquors downtown for another month.

A-1 plans to build a new facility north across Fayette Avenue from their current location, on the former Johnson Funeral Home site. The multi-story structure will include retail space on the first floor. 

City staff indicated the building could have required 175 parking spaces, but took into account that there will be only a half-basement, and that there will be elevator and storage areas and instead recommened 120 spaces. 

A-1 officials initially said they could only provide 58 parking spaces at the site, but later said they could provide 81 spaces.

There was considerable discussion on the issue, but a desire from some board members led to a motion, approved 4-2, to continue the meeting to August to get some additional information.

There is some thought that some parking might be provided at the existing A-1 location on the south side of Fayette, but there is uncertainty over whether IDOT will take some or all of that land for the Fayette Avenue reconstruction project. 

Also Tuesday, the Zoning Board of Appeals approved a variance for an addition to a nonconforming building for Eric and Amy McWhorter at 805 East Rickelman for garage and storage space.