Plan Commission Navigates Way Thru Five Public Hearings

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Published on July 20 2015 7:55 pm
Last Updated on July 20 2015 7:55 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham City Plan Commission navigated its way through five public hearings Monday night, approving recommendations to the City Council.

The lengthiest hearing concerned a request for a special use permit to construct mini-warehouses at 3007 Four Seasons Drive. The 14 units would be built behind the Independent Telcom Associates building.

There were no objections to the project itself, but neighboring landowner John Kingery voiced concerns that the project would add more storm water onto his farm ground to the south. After much disccussion, commissioners voted to recommend the Council grant the special-use permit, but subject to completion of a drainage study by the developer to see how the storm water should best be handled.

The Commission recommended a rezoning of land at 709 South Cherry from single-family residential to multiple-dwelling district. The change would allow construction of a four-unit apartment building with a laundry room. The project would be built on 707 South Cherry, but the laundry room would extend onto 709. Neighbor Larry Ensign wondered whether sufficient parking would be provided when the project is built. City officials indicated there would be sufficient parking.

Commissioners recommended that land at 108 South Oak be rezoned from general commercial district to single-family residence district. The change would allow St. John's Lutheran Church to build a new home for their Eagle's Nest Pre-School. Church Trustee David Ragan said they are planning a 6,500 square foot single-story structure with basement.

The Commission also recommended the vacation of a road and utility easement in Effingham Medical Center Subdivision but retention of a permanent easement for utilities, and also recommended the replat of several properties into one lot and rezoning all of the land into multiple-dwelling district involving parking lot area north of HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital.