Special to the Herald
SPRINGFIELD – A steady stream of information and opinions about the future of a historic neighborhood flowed strongly at New Ebenezer Middle School on Nov. 14.
About 42 people attended the meeting. When a comment was made about the low turnout, another participant mentioned there was a school program next door at the elementary school.
During the charrette, participants were divided into eight groups to offer ordinance suggestions that were recorded by county staffers. About an hour later, each of the eight lists that resulted was posted on the center’s doors.
Recommendations included barring the clear cutting of trees, limiting the use of impervious surfaces – such as pavement; expanding buffer requirements, signage, lighting restrictions, and more.
Development Services personnel put the most popular suggestions in an ordinance form for greater public consideration during the Nov. 14 gathering. A draft document was made available and numerous audience members commented on it.
A work in progress
At this point the proposed overlay district is a work in progress. Participants agreed mostly on what they do not want to see along the Ebenezer corridor: apartments, condominiums, Vrbo- and Airbnb-type rentals; and stores like Dollar General. The group agreed that these types of buildings would not be compatible with the historic significance of the area.
John Schwarzkopf of Rincon said he didn’t want, “private equity CEOs having lots of rentals” in the area. He added that he has a petition with 827 signatures from people against commercial development.
Rick Johnon, pastor of the nearly 300-year-old Jerusalem Lutheran Church, urged community members to look out for one another, and keep out-of-area developers from building in Ebenezer. Johnson said, “My thought is that if you want to build here, you must live here.”
“Right now, this is the legwork,” District 5 Commissioner Phil Kieffer said. “This is laying the groundwork to put a document before the board.”
“… This is an opportunity for us to hear from you guys on what you do want and what you don’t want and then make more thoughtful decisions moving forward on what could affect you,” he said.
Rahn encouraged greater public involvement.
“I’m glad we have people (here). I wish there were more coming out to everything, and they would be engaged,” he said.
Another public meeting will be held in January to continue the refinement process before the ordinances are eventually presented to the Effingham County Board of Commissioners for consideration.
