Plan Commission Recommends Dental Office Project

Members of the Effingham City Plan Commission Tuesday recommended the Effingham City Council approve preparations for a new dental office along Henrietta Street.

Dr. Brian Balda's dental office is to be relocated from its downtown location to a site on the southwest corner of Henrietta and Heritage Avenue.  An existing single-family home there is to be removed either by demolition or relocation, making way for the dental office.

Balda and wife Pamette plan to purchase the property from Brian and Sue Wick and build a structure about 5,000 square feet in size.  Brian Balda said his son and fiancee are soon to graduate from dental school and will be coming to Effingham to join the senior Balda in practice.  Balda expects six or seven jobs to be created with the expansion of his operation.

The Plan Commission voted to recommend the Council approve a rezoning of the lot from single-family residence district to multiple dwelling district and to grant a special-use permit allowing the dental office to locate on the site.

Wick, who will build the office for the Baldas, said the project should be completed by Labor Day.