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Potential buyer asks the city for permission to use a cinderblock building for storage, after a TV tower was removed from the property
QUINCY – A resident who lives about 1,000 feet away from the site of the old WGEM tower and TV transmitter petitioned the city for a special permit to turn the cinderblock building that remains on the property into his personal storage.
The tower and transmitter were removed back in 2025.
The city council approved the permit through a consent agenda on Monday night.
Krayton Higdon has already submitted a letter of intent to purchase the lot, which is east of Willer Drive just off Columbus Road.
In the immediate future, Higdon will use it as a garage and storage, which requires a special use permit because the area is zoned for single-family housing.
The location is just outside of the City of Quincy’s Ward 3, but within the 1.5-mile jurisdictional purview of the city council.
The application includes a request to subdivide the subject lot from one parcel to two to allow for a 1,042 sq. foot lot on the southwest corner of the property to be sold to the adjacent property owner at 5229 Willer Drive South.
The city staff recommended approval with the conditions that there will be no outdoor storage at the site and that only the owner will be using it for storage.
The site is in the same vicinity, but not related to a proposed housing development at Columbus and Arthur Court.
The city has already approved the development of a subdivision with 10 to 20 single-family residential lots.
Developer Jason Wollbrink said the lots will range from 13,000 to 37,000 square feet and start in the $300,000 range.
The plan is subject to review and compliance with city codes. The city also plans to annex the property due to its contiguity to the Abbey Ridge neighborhood.
The plan commission recommended approval, as reported by Muddy River News, back in November. But there are no updates on a timeline for construction just yet.
No zoning changes are required since the area is already approved for residential or agricultural use.
Solar energy facility
Also under the consent agenda, the council approved a Special Permit for Planned Development of a solar energy facility at 2011 North 24th Street. The petitioner requested the installation of solar panels along the route of the proposed eastern expansion of Seminary Road.
Gem City Renewables LLC, of Hingham, Mass., seeks to construct a 2.99 MWac solar farm (approx. 18 acres) on three adjacent properties to generate enough energy to power roughly 600 homes. The plans include leasing the land owned by Michelman Steel Construction Company.
There is split-zoning for this property:
The proposal does not include any solar panels within the limited residential area. City staff said this use of the facility and two contiguous properties to the south is appropriate per City Code review.
Gaming terminals
As part of the regular agenda, there was the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 112 (Amusements) of the municipal code regarding the number of video gaming terminals allowed.
Currently, the state of Illinois has a limit of six terminals at gaming parlors. Under the Video Gaming Act, terminal operators are allowed to offer in-location bonus jackpots with a maximum cumulative limit of $10,000.
As the state increases or decreases the limit, the city will follow state law.
This was a first reading. Two other readings are scheduled, with a vote on the third reading.
Special Events
Quincy’s Fire Department is holding a blessing of the helmets ceremony on Tuesday, May 12, at the Central Fire Station, 906 Vermont, starting at 11:30 a.m.
National Police Week, May 10-16. The Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony hosted by the Quincy Police Department, 530 Broadway, is this Friday, starting at 9 a.m. The chief said be sure to look at the department’s Facebook page, in case it’s postponed due to weather.
National Salvation Army Week is May 11-17. Monday will serve as the official kick-off.
Captains Rich and Linnea Forney received a special proclamation at the start of the council meeting on Monday night.
“The Salvation Army is committed to be the safety net of the community. Every person has dignity and value,” Rich Forney said.
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Plentiful sunshine. High near 75F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
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