Published on November 13, 2025 11:17 am
Last Updated on November 13, 2025 11:17 am
The Effingham City Plan Commission Wednesday recommended two rezoning requests to the City Council.
One rezoning request involved three lots at 600, 606 and 608 South 2nd Street. The eastern portion of the lots would be rezoned from general commercial district to light industrial district. The zoning on the remainder of the lots would not be changed. The changes in zoning would affect the portion of the lots bordering Merz Heating and Air Conditioning. One neighbor, Ron Fuhr, had questions about how the drainage might be affected. The petitioners said they might add some parking behind the Merz properties.
The other rezoning involves lots at 302 and 304 North 1st Street. Accent Design Concepts and Manager Cory Niebrugge asked that the lots be rezoned from single-family residence district to attached single-family dwelling district. Three citizens objected since the rezoning would result in denser development than is now allowed, with two units fronting on 1st Street and two units facing Willow Street.
Commission members voted 5-0 to recommend both the 2nd Street and the 1st Street rezoning requests.
The Plan Commission voted to approve a site plan for an expansion of the materials yard at Menard’s at 1100 Avenue of Mid America. The project will involve new and proposed warehouse space.
The Commission also approved a site plan for Wright at Home’s new location on the southwest corner of Fayette and Willow. The business will build a new facility west of the current location on Fayette. The address for the new building will be 307 South Willow Street.
City Planner Greg Koester brought the Commission members up to date on the 2050 Comprehensive Plan. Koester said the deadline for completing the Plan looks to be moving into January rather than by the end of the year.
