Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:47 PM CDT
Board to hear zoning requests including proposed drive-in
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Petitions regarding a proposed drive-in movie theater and the rezoning of Sixth and 18th street properties are on Thursday’s Charleston zoning board agenda.
The board is scheduled to consider a petition to rezone 1139, 1143, and 1151 Sixth St. from commercial to residential during a hearing at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 520 Jackson Ave.
Other agenda items include a petition to rezone 1917, 1919, 1921, 1927, 2005 and 2009 18th St. from residential to commercial as well as a petition for a conditional use permit to allow a drive-in at 375 N. 14th St.
In regard to Sixth Street, Kenny and Cindy Keefer have petitioned to rezone their three properties from neighborhood service commercial to limited multifamily dwelling residential. The hearing on their petition was postponed at the Feb. 14 zoning board meeting.
Keefer has said he plans to demolish the rental house on the southernmost of the three properties, 1151 Sixth, and construct a two-unit duplex with four bedrooms in each unit. Keefer has said he has no plans for his two rental properties to the north other than to renovate them.
Rezoning the three properties has been met by opposition from some home owners in this neighborhood, which forms a corridor between Eastern Illinois University and the courthouse square. They feel large rental properties are encroaching upon and causing their neighborhood to deteriorate.
In regard to 18 Street, Richard and Marj Beavers are petitioning to rezone six properties from single-family residential to general commercial. The petition covers their three adjoining properties at 1919, 1921, and 1927 18th, which include Ann N Andy’s Playhouse day care, as well as three neighboring properties.
Marj Beavers has said they plan to sell their properties and believe that having them zoned commercial on Illinois Route 130 will make them more marketable.
Assistant City Planner Steve Pamperin said the Beavers’ previous petition only covered their three properties and was voted down by the board 3-2 on Feb. 28. He said the opposing board members indicated they did not want to put a commercially zoned area in the midst of a residentially zoned area.
Pamperin said the Beavers have since obtained the permission of neighboring property owners to seek the rezoning of their properties as well. He said the area that is proposed for rezoning runs from just south of the Tull House to McKinley Avenue.
In regard to the drive-in, Sensible Cinemas theater company owner Mark McSparin has petitioned for a conditional use permit to open an outdoor movie venue at the former Eagles Lodge property. The hearing on his petition was postponed at the March 13 meeting.
McSparin has said he hopes to open a single-screen, first-run theater by June at the approximately 5-acre property on North 14th Street. He plans to use the former lodge building as a concession area. In a year or two, he plans to open a second screen there.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.
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Rotty wrote on Mar 26, 2008 12:48 AM: