The DeKalb Plan Commission approved a draft of the North Fifth Ward Neighborhood Plan at Wednesday night’s meeting.

The plan was introduced last summer and is designed to help property owners with the long-term liability and health of the historic area.

Assumptions about the area formed the basis for the plan. It included preserving the historic nature of the area, having a mix of single-family and multi-family homes and continuing reasonable returns on property owners’ investments .

The fifth ward area is bounded by Lincoln Highway to the south, First Street to the east, John Street to the west and Miller Avenue to the north.

A majority of the residents of the north fifth ward who were present for the meeting’s open discussion expressed their support for the project.

“It’s pretty interesting that everybody who spoke is for the plan,” said Rich Fassig, chair of the plan commission.

The commission approved the draft without approving recommended strategies for land use, zoning and character section.

The first recommendation suggested that the Landmark Commission Advisory review acts that change the exterior of properties within the district defined in the plan.

The second recommended that an overlay zone be applied to structures within the district that will be redeveloped.

T-Mobile request

The plan commission tabled indefinitely a request from T-Mobile cellular service provider to install a new cellular communications tower at 1015 Blackhawk Drive.

T-Mobile reportedly is considering a co-location tower with the one currently at Dresser Road.

Special use permit

A request from Mike Carpenter, former co-owner of Molly’s Eatery & Drinkery, for a special use permit for a restaurant with a drive-up facility at 1115 W. Lincoln Highway was tabled until Dec. 10.

The site is the former location of the Wendy’s with a drive-through window that was destroyed by a fire.