Plan Commission Recommends Three Rezonings, Approves Site Plan

The Effingham City Plan Commission Wednesday recommended three rezonings to the Effingham City Council.

One rezoning is for property at 404 West Temple. Gregory and Irene Lilley would like to rezone the property from single family residence district to attached single-family dwelling district, to build a structure that would be essentially two homes with a common wall.

Another rezoning is for issuance of a special use permit for property at 201 West Virginia. James McCrory is purchasing the property from Richard Cornell and Jean Cornell and would be used for mini-warehouses in a light industrial district.

The third project involves property at 1014, 1016 and 1018 North Merchant. Fieldcrest Development, the partnership of Jason Wrone and Bryan Wenthe, is seeking to develop eight or nine apartment units on the now-vacant property. Wrone said one two-story structure would be involved, and said the development could involve one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.

A neighbor across Merchant Street, Lynn Marvin, voiced objections to the project, saying he didn't want to put up with the noise and trash he expects apartments to generate. In response to Marvin's question, Wenthe said he would be fine with such a development across the street from his home, since he knows the type of development he's planning. 

The Plan Commission agreed to recommend the Council rezone the lots from single-family residence to multiple dwelling district.

Commissioners also approved a site plan for a 8,400 square foot warehouse for Bahrns Equipment, to be located south of the business.