Forward SGF

Monday night, Springfield City Council voted 8-to-1 to approve the first major overhaul to Springfield’s land development code in 30 years

Over 18 months, city officials, hired consultants and a team of more than 100 community volunteers have pitched in on a comprehensive rewrite of the city’s land development code.

It’s KSMU News Director Michele Skalicky. Two years ago, Springfield City Council approved a new comprehensive plan that charts the city’s future for the next two decades. That plan is called Forward SGF, and it focuses on the city’s growth and land use. Over the past several months, city officials and consultants have been ironing out some of the fine print — a community development code update. I’m joined by KSMU’s public affairs reporter, Gregory Holman, to help explain what’s going on with this major change in Missouri’s third-largest city.

On Monday night, Springfield City Council will hold a public hearing on whether to send a 3/4-cent sales tax measure to voters. The proposed tax measure would pay for public safety efforts and community projects.

The nonprofit, which started its first programs last year, aims to increase homeownership and property values in Springfield’s historic neighborhoods.

The bill discussed Monday night would redirect a few thousand short of $700,000 in unused American Rescue Plan Act funds towards a number of projects.

A 30-member Citizens Commission on Community Investment was appointed by Springfield City Council earlier this week. Commissioners will soon start work. Their task is deciding whether to ask voters to renew a key sales tax passed during the Great Recession — and how to spend the money.

A team of city officials and consultants was on hand Thursday night at Springfield Art Museum for a drop-in event intended to update residents on the first major community development code update since 1995.

Springfield is often deemed a great place to start a business — but is it a great place to live? A much-anticipated city housing study is almost complete.

The new Forward SGF comprehensive plan is about creating a community that residents want, city officials say.