The City Council is expected to resolve the ongoing controversy with the properties located on the corner of Fourth Street and Polk Avenue during its regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. today in City Hall.

Owners Chad and Hadley Phillips requested a variance on the corner that would allow them to build 22 two-bedroom and 12 one-bedroom apartments, instead of three- and four-bedroom units, which current code permits.

The number of bedrooms, 56, and parking spaces, 75, would be the same regardless of the variance.

This will be the second time the council examines the variance. On Aug. 4, the council sent the petition back to the zoning board for further review, claiming that requirements for a variance were not met.

Those requirements are the property in question cannot yield a reasonable rate of return and the variance would not alter the viability of neighboring properties.

The zoning board conducted another round of testimony Aug. 27.

During that meeting, representatives of Chad and Hadley Phillips cited Lyfords Asset Management standards that state a developer should not consider rental properties a reasonable investment unless the return on investment is 7 percent.

The representatives projected that three- and four-bedroom apartments on the Polk property would yield a 5.3 percent return. One- and two-bedroom apartments would yield a 6.89 percent return, which means the Phillips brothers would break even on their investment.

Mayor John Inyart said the zoning board addressed the council’s concerns. He said the council now has enough information to make a thoughtful decision.

“The ultimate decision is now up to the City Council,” Inyart said.

Rubble from dilapidated rental houses now occupies the Polk property. Chad and Hadley Phillips tore down the houses after the council filed a lawsuit against them. They have refused to clean the rubble, as the variance issue remains unresolved.

The lawsuit was issued after residents around the property asked the owners to tear down the rental houses, claiming the condition of the homes created a safety hazard.

Neighboring residents are also concerned about their property values and the makeup of their neighborhood, if an apartment complex comes to fruition.

At the Aug. 27 zoning board meeting, resident Annie Cross said the board should take into account the future of the community and be mindful of permanent residents in the area.

“Act on a vision of zoning for this community,” she said.The council will also vote on an Illinois Housing Development Authority grant that would retrofit single-family homes with energy efficiencies, such as updating light fixtures, air conditioning units and insulation.The city conducted this program last year.

The council will decide to use a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant for fire prevention.

The $78,848 grant would be used to purchase a combination sprinkler and fire safety trailer that would be used at public safety and school events.

The trailer would simulate a home on fire in which the sprinkler activates and puts out an actual fire.

Inyart said the Charleston Fire Department has wanted the trailer for years. If the grant is approved, the trailer could be delivered to the department in January.

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.