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Council hears Effingham 2050 plan presentation and considers Heritage Avenue housing RFP
Summary
Consultant Stephanie Brown presented key elements of the Effingham 2050 comprehensive plan, emphasizing housing, future land use and an implementation matrix; staff also reported one RFP for a Heritage Avenue parcel tied to a $373,500 grant and recommended drafting a purchase agreement for a proposed 15–17-unit attached housing development.
Consultant Stephanie Brown of Chastain & Associates summarized the Effingham 2050 comprehensive plan, highlighting extensive public engagement, a 10% survey response rate and five focus areas: housing and neighborhoods, economic development, community services and utilities, transportation and mobility, and quality of life. Brown said the plan includes a future land-use map, a detailed implementation matrix with priority levels and potential funding sources, and recommended annual review of the matrix alongside zoning map review.
"The biggest topic throughout was housing," Brown said, adding that the plan includes action items intended to address missing-middle housing and other local housing challenges. She told council the plan is a guiding document and urged future councils to use it as a "north star" but not as a rigid limit on decision-making.
Separately, City Administrator Miller reported the city received one responsive proposal to an RFP for a grant-supported parcel north of Heritage Avenue. The proposal offered $200,000 to purchase the property and build approximately 15–17 single-family attached units (duplexes sold as individual homes) over three years; staff noted the city received a grant of $373,500 that would support the work. Miller asked for council concurrence to have staff and the city attorney draft a purchase agreement and related contract terms.
Council members praised the plan's public engagement and implementation matrix. Staff said the future land-use map and supporting materials will be made available on the city's website and as an interactive map once formal adoption steps (as applicable) are completed.
