Published on May 12, 2026 8:05 pm
Last Updated on May 12, 2026 8:05 pm
The Effingham City Plan Commission heard testimony Tuesday on the Oxford House on Virginia Avenue.
A public hearing began on a petition for a special-use permit for a recovery residence. The petitioner is Oxford House Volta at 1004 West Virginia.
Sarah Jane Hunt is the attorney for the petitioner. Hunt said the location is a residence for disabled individuals, and said Substance Use Disorder is the disability.
Hunt contended that the residents are eight individuals who can’t live at home since they are in recovery. She said the occupants are “working their program”, usually AA for alcohol addicts, and NA for narcotics addicts.
Hunt told attorney for the City Kara Wade that the tenants have to be sober or they have to leave. She said that the occupants are endeavoring to get clean, asking rhetorically, “if you’re not working the program, why are you there?”
Effingham City Planner Greg Koester said the City has concerns over insufficient parking and insufficient living space per occupant.
Commission members said they need time to digest what they heard, and voted to continue the public hearing for another month.
The Commission also voted to recommend the City Council approve a plat of S&K Subdivision, which is a split of a lot into two lots in MacGraphics Subdivision on the south side of Professional Park Avenue.
The Commission also reorganized for the start of the new City fiscal year. Brian Hayes was re-elected Plan Commission chairman, while Andrew Grunloh was elected vice-chairman. Don Bushue was seated as a new Commission member, beginning a three-year term. One vacancy on the Commission remains.
