Listen in MP3 format

The largest proposed planning development in the history of Springfield was debated at Monday night’s city council meeting.
Council members listened to over an hour of testimony from 13 speakers for and against the proposed development.
KSMU’s Erika Brame was there and files this report.
 

The proposed development involves two council bills.
One is designed to annex nearly 300 acres of land by South U.S. Highway 65 near the recently built diamond intersection.
The second is to take another 200 acres already in the city limits of Springfield and combine it with the newly annexed area.
This will create a new zoning code for possible development of that land.
The area covers 500 acres of land on both sides of 65 highway extending to north from the diamond intersection of Highway 60 and 65.
Several issues concerning the possible development were addressed by 13 people who were for and against the project.
Some expressed concerns about the water integrity of the James River which flows directly through the area proposed for the development.
Other speakers expressed concerns of storm water run off.
While others maintained that the projects guidelines would control run off and create an environmentally friendly development.
Todd Myers a Springfield resident said he was concerned about an increase of traffic on Monitor Street by Sequiota Elementary School.

“We’re going to put a major road, and it has to be a major road. You don’t put in this type of development with out that being a major road. And we’re going to put it right next to an elementary school. And you’re putting it in the middle of a residential area,” he said.

Rob Murray who is representing some of the possible developers at the site says this is the only and the best site for national businesses to come in and bring economic growth to Springfield.

“Things like P. F. Chang’s, Whole Food Market, Trader Joes, those tenants. You go to Kansas City and say well why aren’t those in Springfield. Well they’re not in Springfield because they’re not going to build stand alone on Glenstone and tare done a building. They’re going to be part of a complex that has a lifestyle feel to it. And the only way that is going to happen is at this location,” he said.

Murray says this development is set out to be a “green” building project and could put Southwest Missouri on the map for “green” building.
So far there is no developer set for the project.
This bill will be voted on in two weeks.
Council did vote on the restaurant inspection fee increase as a part of a larger resolution.
The vote passed with Nick Ibarra and Doug Burlison in opposition.
For KSMU News, I’m Erika Brame.
 

Related Items: