Plan Commission Recommends Lessening of Restrictions on Austin Mansion Operation

The Effingham City Plan Commission Tuesday voted 7-1 to recommend the City Council lessen the restrictions on the operation of the Austin Mansion by Walnut Street Weddings.

Billi Jansen, owner of Walnut Street Weddings, spoke to the Commission since her current six-month special use permit is due to expire on October 15. Jansen said she has complied with all of the requirements City officials placed on her and there was testimony at a public hearing Tuesday that she has been in compliance. She did say that a 12-month extension of the permit as first considered Tuesday was not a good situation as people book wedding venues far in advance and the uncertainty over whether they would be in operation could hurt her business.

Neighbors Chuck Woodard and Stephen McNaughton asked for no more than a 12-month extension of the permit. McNaughton said if an open-ended permit is issued, as a neighbor "we would feel trapped".  

There were concerns that very few events have been held at the facility since the permit was issued, so there's not been a valid test of whether the guidelines included in the permit will be upheld.

On the other hand, several commissioners said a one-year extension would tie Jansen's hands in booking events. Plan Commission member Bob McGee said, "I feel for the neighbors; they live there all the time, but she's (Jansen's) working with the City; why are we sitting here with a hammer ready to come down on her if she does something wrong? I think this is the best shot (for a viable use of the property), we need to get behind her."

One change was that the special use permit recommended by the Plan Commission Tuesday will run with Jansen, the operator, not with the land. That means if Jansen sold the property, the special use permit would end.

Commissioner Mark Thies said, "There are enough restrictions in place, don't we have guidelines if there are violations? This is the best use for it (the property), what else is gonna work there?"

Plan Commission Chairman Greg Kemper was the lone holdout on the vote. Kemper told Jansen that the City worked with her to issue the permit and help with guidelines, but now not enough events have taken place to know whether she'll operate the facility within the guidelines. Jansen said her pregnancy and birth of a child were factors in not holding events, along with work to make changes to the facility to bring it into compliance.

Commission member Marty Stock said he was concerned that no events have taken place involving alcohol or music late into the evening, but eventually voted to support the change in the permit restrictions.

Here's what was recommended by the Commission to the City Council:

• A special use permit issued to Walnut Street Weddings, not tied to the property
• Eliminating the one event per week restriction
• Eliminating the restriction that small events must end by 8pm
• Maintain the restriction on those attending events parking in the neighborhood
• Maintain the requirement that Walnut Street Weddings have off-site parking agreements

The City Council could consider the matter at their meeting on September 16, but it's more likely it'll be considered at their meeting on October 7. That could be key because Walnut Street Weddings has two major events taking place prior to that date; September 20 and October 4. Those events will include music and alcohol and later evening hours and would be the first tests of how well Walnut Street Weddings would operate under the restrictions still a part of their existing special use permit.

Also Tuesday, the Plan Commission approved a site plan for a new home for West and Company CPAs. The building is to be constructed on the southeast corner of North 3rd Street and East Rickelman Avenue. Partner John Vogt said after Tuesday's meeting that they have simply run out of room at their location at Jefferson and Willow. Vogt said they hope to break ground on the new building in October. The Commission also recommended the City Council approve a plat of the subdivision on which the building will be constructed.