The Coles County Habitat for Humanity is petitioning for an ordinance to be approved by the Charleston City Council at its meeting Tuesday night.

The ordinance would allow Habitat for Humanity to build three residential homes and a food pantry on three lots designated as industrial in zoning maps.

Currently, under industrial zoning requirements, the lots must be used only for industrial use.

However, the property can be rezoned if the petitioners have a licensed land survey, look at the property and create plans for the property as well as get it approved by the zoning board, said Charleston Mayor John Inyart.

In its ordinance, Habitat for Humanity is asking for the city council to grant them two zoning map amendments, which allows them to rezone the property for the homes as well as the food pantry; a conditional use permit, which is required in order for them to use the property for a community service function; and two variances, which allow the properties to be minimized from the larger lot size into individual lots for each home and pantry.

If the ordinance is approved, the lots for the homes will become residential property and the food pantry lot will be commercial.

Habitat for Humanity is looking at the lots on the southeast intersection of Locust Avenue and E Street for their homes and pantry locations.

The city council will also be looking to approve a bid award for the construction of a new garage for the Public Works Department.

The garage will house the Charleston utilities department, who work on the water and sewage lines. The department used to be housed at the Water Treatment Plant, but was displaced three years ago to make way for the construction being done on the plant.

It has since been sharing space with the street department.

“[A new garage] has been in the budget for the past three years, but it has been moved around and pushed back. Now we have decided what we want to do,” Inyart said.

According to the bid sheet, there are currently two contractors who are bidding for the construction of the site. L.J. Swingler & Sons, Inc., from Teutopolis, Ill., offers to complete the building in 180 days after starting construction for a total of $455,900; where as Wohltman Construction, from Effingham, Ill., offers to complete construction in 90 days after starting construction for a total of $457,500.

The garage will be built where the rest of the city public works buildings are located.

The council will approve a bid and examine 14 other items at the meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.