Plan Commission Recommends Against Rezoning for QuikTrip Facility

(CITY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS JEREMY HEUERMAN OFFERS TESTIMONY DURING TUESDAY NIGHT'S QUIKTRIP REZONING HEARING. THE MEETING WAS HELD AT THE EFFINGHAM PERFORMANCE CENTER DUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING CONSIDERATIONS. ALSO PICTURED {left to right} ARE CITY PLANNER GREG KOESTER AND PLAN COMMISSION MEMBERS MICHAEL McHUGH AND BRAD MEINHART)

At the conclusion of an almost four-hour meeting, the Effingham City Plan Commission Tuesday night voted to recommend against rezoning land at the intersection of Technology Drive and North US Route 45 for a QuikTrip Travel Center.

The large majority of those who testified at the hearing held at the Effingham Performance Center voiced concern that trucks utilizing the facility would cause traffic tieups and could force local traffic who work in the area of Network Centre High-Tech Park east onto Willenborg Street and Evergreen Avenue. 

Commissioners Brad Meinhart, Doug Wohltman, Mark Thies, Clint Spruell, and Michael McHugh voted in favor of denying the rezoning, while Commissioners Dave Storm and Cindy Vogel voted against denying the request.

The matter now goes to the Effingham City Council for a final decision.

QuikTrip agreed to pay for renovations to the roadways in the area of the project, but many who testified didn't see how the backup of trucks wanting to utilize the facility could be properly addressed. Several who spoke said they didn't oppose the QuikTrip itself, but were against truck utilization of the facility. QuikTrip officials said they would not pursue the facility without truck traffic there.

Plan Commissioners did vote for a site plan for the facility. They also voted for a site plan for a temporary facility for COVID-19 screening at the Effingham County Health Department.