Plan Commission Denies Rezoning Requests, Approves Two Site Plans for Developments

The Effingham City Plan Commission has recommended against a proposed rezoning of property along Hendelmeyer Avenue, and the developer has withdrawn the rejected proposal.

Several residents of Woodland Heights Subdivision and residences north across Hendelmeyer Avenue voiced objection to the proposal from Keith and Jill Hartman. The proposal would have seen the development of multi-family residences, like town houses, along the south side of Hendelmeyer from the Village Apartments complex, east to Woodland Heights.

There were objections to the multi-family zoning next to or close to single-family properties and to plans to have some of the residences built with residents backing out onto the street. City Engineer Jeremy Heuerman also suggested the City likes transitional zoning, rather than multi-family and single-family developments butting up against each other.

The Commission voted 5-0 to recommend the City reject the rezoning proposal, leading the Hartmans to withdraw the current proposal.

Plan Commission members approved two site plans.

One plan involves a 32,000 square foot addition at Northside Ford at Keller and Ford. The addition would be built onto the east side of the current building including new showroom space and additional service bays.

The other plan is for Beck's Hybrids, an Indiana-based company making its first expansion into Illinois. The development will be located at 2100 Bourgeois Drive, at the end of Pike Avenue, south of the Cross at the Crossroads. The development will front on Interstates 57/70 and will feature a 96,000 square foot building that could accommodate up to 20 employees. It's expected that seed plots displaying Beck's varieties will be part of the development.