Plan Commission Considers Freight Terminal Plan

Effingham City Plan commissioners Tuesday gave approval to a site plan for a new freight terminal.

Old Dominion Freight Line plans to develop a motor freight terminal on a 20-acre tract. The site would be west off South Raney Street in the city business park and will line up with Parker Avenue. A 21,500 square foot facility will be developed to handle 40 trucks. The facility will be for transfers of freight, not storage. There are plans for fencing and gates for security, as well as detention basins to handle storm water. The company and the City are working to secure a grant that would help pay for street improvements and water lines for the terminal. 

Commissioners also voted to recommend the City Council rezone property at 713 South Park Street, and the City Zoning Board of Appeals later Tuesday gave approval to setback variances to facilitate construction planned on the property. The lot is now vacant. The proposal is to rezone the lot from single-family residence district to attached single-family dwelling district. Developer Clair Kaye said they want to build a zero lot line structure that would house two separately-owned residences that are attached. 

It was suggested that the zoning could be transitional in the neighborhood from residential to the south to commercial to the north.