Residents and business professionals addressing plans for a Menards home-improvement store and retail center in west Springfield were split during an April 27 public hearing at City Council chambers.
Eau Claire, Wis.-based Menard Inc. seeks to build on 40 acres on the edge of town at 3705 W. Sunshine St., a move estimated by a company spokesman to create 200 jobs and $30 million in taxable income during its first year in operation. But neighbors said the area northwest of Sunshine and West Bypass is primarily rural, and the expected 1,000 daily cars are more than they – or the roads – could handle.
In all, 25 individuals addressed council, with 13 expressing support for Menards’ plans and a dozen nearby residents opposed.
The measure would rezone property just north of the planned $78 million Springfield Plaza retail and office complex to a highway commercial district from a combination of suburban residential and general retail. Before the public hearing, council voted unanimously to join the zoning ordinance with a bill accepting the dedication of public easements as the developer seeks to make street improvements north and west of the intersection at Sunshine and Zimmer Road.
Menards spokesman Tyler Edwards said the proposed zoning is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan for land use, and the development would be sensitive to neighbors by exceeding setback requirements. With setbacks of 25-40 feet required for the proposed zoning, the Menards store would be 85 feet away from rights of way to the east, 120 feet away from neighbors’ properties to the north and 440 feet away from residents to the west, he said.
“I don’t understand how we’ll have any impact on these people, because it is so far away and there will be no commercial traffic,” Edwards said, noting there’s no plan for direct street connections to neighbors to the north and west.
On March 9, council annexed the property and 6 acres of Missouri Department of Transportation and Greene County rights of way in anticipation of the proposed zoning change.
A month later, Springfield’s Planning & Zoning Commission voted 5-4 against recommending council’s approval of Menards’ plans after residents voiced traffic, nuisance and safety concerns.
Edwards said plans include retail development separate from the Menards store.
Nearby resident Patricia Mobley spoke against the project, citing traffic problems the development could create.
“All of this is an accident waiting to happen,” she said. “I feel very strongly that the city must address traffic concerns before rezoning this property.”
Springfield Planning and Development Director Mary Lilly Smith said Menards agreed to pay for all road improvements related to the rezoning, and those changes were designed to handle additional traffic.
Several residents expressed lighting and water-pollution concerns. Steve Edmondson pointed to a $2.5 million fine levied by the state of Wisconsin 10 years ago for Menards’ violations of state water pollution laws and then noted the property’s nearby proximity to Wilson’s Creek, which runs about a mile northwest.
Florence Edmondson, his mother, said the area doesn’t need more low-paying retail jobs.
“I feel like if Springfield needs to get business in, it needs to get industry in. It doesn’t need these box stores. We have enough of those,” she said, asking council to keep the current zoning in place.
Edwards declined to say whether Menards would pay employees living wages when Councilman Mike Schilling tried to nail down the company’s average pay.
Also, Matt Cowan, owner of Cowan’s Ace Hardware on West College Street, said the development could hurt his and other existing businesses.
Supporters of the plans included past Springfield Public Schools board President Jerry Harmison of law firm Harmison & Pearman PC and downtown property owner Scott Tillman.
Harmison cautioned the city could lose the private investment to another community.
“If all Springfield citizens are to have opportunities for economic prosperity, Springfield must be viewed as a business-friendly community,” Harmison said. “Your vote on this case will send a message to companies considering relocation to Missouri.”
In 2009, council approved a Highway 60 corridor plan, which identified the property as a potential retail development site, and Tillman said he’s been buying land with future development in mind.
“If you’re not going to follow the plan approved by council, then that kind of gives me heartburn about what I’m doing,” he said.
Neil Brady, president of Anderson Engineering Inc., which is helping Menards design infrastructure improvements, said a large-scale commercial development is the only likely private source for road upgrades.
“Residential developments cannot take on all the infrastructure costs that Menards is doing,” Brady said.
Council is slated to vote on the combined bills at its May 11 meeting.
It is unclear if the sale of the west Springfield property is contingent on the zoning change.
According to Greene County assessor records, the property is owned by Donald McCurry, who operates an adjacent used car lot under McCurry Sales Inc. The county recorder’s office has no record of a property deed transfer, and a voicemail left with Don McCurry Sales was not returned by press time.
The west Springfield Menards is the retailer’s second store planned in the Queen City. In August, Menards signed a $4 million contract with Springfield Public Schools to purchase the former Hickory Hills Elementary property at the corner of U.S. Highway 65 and Chestnut Expressway.
In March, council approved a highway commercial district and the termination of an old community improvement district, in anticipation of Menards’ east-side building plans.[[In-content Ad]]
