Madison County Board Denies Apartment Rezoning, Approves Goat Permit

Residents oppose apartment plan, while Bethalto-area resident gets approval to keep more goats than allowed.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:07am

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A serene, realistic painting of a modest apartment building or row of townhomes set against a backdrop of warm, golden sunlight and long shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the changing nature of a residential community.As development pressures mount, a Madison County neighborhood grapples with the delicate balance between growth and community character.Granite City Today

The Madison County Board voted 20-3 to reject a request by Apollo Properties LLC to rezone 0.45 acres in Granite City to allow for additional apartments, citing concerns from neighbors about issues like trash and parking. However, the Board did approve a request for a Bethalto-area resident to keep four goats on their property, upholding a special use permit but denying a variance for the extra animals.

Why it matters

The apartment rezoning decision reflects the ongoing tensions between developers and local residents over housing density and growth in the Madison County area. Meanwhile, the approval of the goat permit highlights how the Board navigates balancing property rights with community concerns.

The details

Apollo Properties LLC had requested to rezone the Granite City property from a business district to residential in order to add two more apartments to the existing two units and business space. However, the request faced strong opposition from neighbors who cited concerns about increased trash, lack of parking, and other issues. The Zoning Board of Appeals and Building and Zoning Committee had both previously denied the rezoning request. In contrast, the Board approved a request from a Bethalto-area resident to keep four goats on their property, upholding a special use permit but denying a variance to exceed the two-goat limit.

  • The Madison County Board meeting took place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
  • The Board voted 20-3 to reject the apartment rezoning request.

The players

Apollo Properties LLC

A company that had requested to rezone 0.45 acres in Granite City from a business district to residential in order to add two more apartments to the existing property.

Joshua Harkey

Representing the owner Stephen Sherwood, he requested a special use permit to keep goats on the property at 101 Echo Lane in Bethalto.

Tom Maag

An attorney who spoke in favor of the apartment rezoning request, arguing it would be the best use of the property.

Nick Petrillo

A Madison County Board member from Granite City who spoke during the discussion about the zoning issues.

Christopher S. Noeth

The president of Noeth Development Inc., which requested the rezoning of 2.37 acres in Edwardsville to allow for a storage facility.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The Madison County Board will likely continue to navigate similar zoning and development debates as the region experiences ongoing growth and change.

The takeaway

This decision highlights the ongoing tensions between developers, local residents, and government officials over housing density and growth in the Madison County area. It also shows how the Board must balance property rights with community concerns when making zoning decisions.