Plan Commission Okays Site Plan for Workman Center

(THE WORKMAN SPORTS AND WELLNESS CENTER)

The Effingham City Plan Commission Tuesday gave its approval to a site plan for the Workman Sports and Wellness Center.

The 55,610-square-foot facility will be located west across North Maple Street from Evergreen Hollow Park on ground owned by the Effingham Park District.

The rectangular building will be bounded by parking and green areas with the entire complex circular in shape.  The site plan includes landscape berms that will serve as buffers for the residential properties south of the complex.

No one was present for or against the proposal, and Commission members gave unanimous approval to the plan.

The Commission also voted to recommend the rezoning of lots at 802 and 804 West Grove Avenue from single family dwelling district to attached single family dwelling district.

Lori Bushue of Bushue Property Management said the present plan is to build the structure joined by a common wall but sold as separate residences.  Mr. and Mrs. Larry Ensign, who live west of the development site, said they had no objection to the project as proposed; they were just concerned that a larger facility with more units might have been an option.  

City Building Official Bruce Devall said the options for the Bushues are the attached single family residences or two separate single family homes under the zoning being proposed.

The Plan Commission's recommendation will be considered for approval by the Effingham City Council at next week's meeting.