Plan Commission Okays Site Plan, Went 2-1 on Three Rezoning Recommendations

The Effingham City Plan Commission Tuesday approved a site plan for a new feed store for South Central FS.

FS has purchased the Kirby Building immediately south of FS' Fast Stop General Store. The plan is to replace the existing Kirby Building with the feed store. Trucks will enter the property from the north, while other vehicles can gain access off either Willow Street or Gordon Avenue. The new building will measure just more than 17,000 square feet in area.

The Plan Commission considered three rezoning requests. One of those was recommended for denial by the City Council. That request involves property at 800 South 5th Street. The structure on the property is zoned single family residential, but the consensus is that it has been used as a multi-family structure for as long as anyone could remember. The petitioner, Blake McWilliams, would like to make interior improvements to permit four residential units inside the structure with parking to accommodate the four units.

A neighbor, Garrett Ziegler, objected to the requested rezoning due to concerns even denser development could result. The tenor of the discussion at the meeting was that a different rezoning limiting the number of units that could be developed in the structure would be viewed more favorably. There were no NAY votes heard on the motion to recommend denial of the rezoning request.

The other two rezoning requests were recommended for approval by the Council. 

One is for a parcel owned by D and A Property Development at 412 West Temple. Don Bushue of D and A would like the property rezoned to R3D, multiple dwelling district. Bushue said he'd like to develop an eight-unit apartment building on the parcel, which is now improved only with a garage that he uses for storage.

The other rezoning request was from Brian Meyers, who would like the parcel at 605 West Jefferson Avenue rezoned from general commercial to R4, limited office and retail district. Meyers said the highest and best use of the property would be for an up and down duplex. He said he was also considering a business downstairs and a residential unit upstairs. 

Again, the City Council has the final say on any rezoning requests. 

The entire Plan Commission membership was present for Tuesday's meeting.