City Beat: With council approval, trolley bikes rolling in

A new business venture centered on a $50,000 “party bike” received a green light from Springfield City Council on July 13.   

Despite the objections of Councilman Craig Hosmer, the administrative body approved an ordinance to allow 14-passenger trolley bikes along city streets. Calibrate Marketing owner Brian Ash has teamed up with Robert DeVore, Baron Financial Group LLC financial planner and owner of Ozarks Entertainment LLC, to bring the concept to the Queen City.

Ash and DeVore plan to roll out a 2,000-pound chauffeur-driven trolley bike rented by groups of riders who could drink alcohol and peddle around downtown – though riders bring their own beverages. Ash said 85 cities in 32 states have trolley bikes, and he has worked over the past nine months to bring the concept to Springfield. Manufactured by Kingman, Ariz.-based Atek Customs, the party bikes cost around $47,500. Ash and DeVore only have plans for one trolley bike.

“One of my Facebook friends had posted a picture of one. I think they were in Nashville or something, and said, ‘This was awesome. Springfield needs one of these.’ I had never heard of it, so I started looking into it online, and thought, ‘This is genius. Springfield does need one of these,’” Ash said.

Before council welcomed the trolley bikes by an 8-1 vote, members chimed in.

“I’ve been to several cities this summer, and they have the bikes. They are moving at 8 miles per hour or less,” Councilman Craig Fishel said. “It is the responsibility of the operator, and I think the current operator would shut the party down if it got out of hand, so I’m supporting it. I think it’s a new, innovative thing for Springfield.”

Hosmer said he was voting against the measure because it does not require a commercial driver’s license, just a Class E chauffeur’s license.

“We are allowing people to drink alcohol, be on a bike, with no head protection [and] no fall protection,” Hosmer said. “In my opinion, that is an incredible risk we are taking with the people of the city of Springfield.”

Acknowledging the safety concerns, Ash said the driver would be in control at all times, and riders would wear seat belts.

“The first time I saw it, I thought, ‘How can this be legal?’” Ash said. “But it’s not that different really from a party bus or limousine where people are allowed to have alcohol. … The chauffeur is driving it, and he’s sober.

“The people who are pedaling really have no say on where it goes. They don’t affect the bikes or steering or anything. … It’s like an exercise bike at the gym. You don’t have to worry about balance.”

Councilwoman Kristi Fulnecky said she didn’t feel a CDL was necessary.

“I think this is a great idea. It has already been implemented in other cities,” she said. “We already have party buses in Springfield. The reason I don’t agree with the CDL is because it’s a bike, not a vehicle.”

Council’s approval should help the business launch in 2016, Ash said, though limited service could become available before the end of the year.

Ash said the local bike still has to be built and shipped to Springfield. He projected startup costs at around $50,000 and estimated group rentals would cost $200 to $300 for two hours, or about $20 to $25 per rider.

“It’s just an extension of what we already do,” Ash said, noting he developed TheTrolleyBike.com and will handle marketing, while DeVore will run operations.

Zoning moves
At the request of the applicant, council tabled SRC Holdings Corp.’s rezoning request near Partnership Industrial Center before unanimously approving a zoning change across the street for a FedEx Ground facility.

SRC sought to rezone 59 acres at the southwest corner of Mulroy Road and Kearney Street to heavy manufacturing from a planned development. Following a public hearing last month, SRC Holdings CEO Jack Stack said the company was near closing on a contract with an unnamed client that could create 40-50 jobs and a 100,000-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing plant.

Dick Moger, an executive vice president with SRC Holdings, said the company plans to resubmit the rezoning request after it works with city staff to change or clarify some of the proposed requirements. He said contract talks have not fallen through, but no firm plans are in place for facility construction.

Across Mulroy and south of Kearney, property owner Meek’s Lumber Co. received unanimous approval to rezone agricultural land in the county to heavy manufacturing in the city in the hopes of securing a deal with FedEx Ground.

During the June 22 public hearing, Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP attorney Shawn Whitney represented Kansas City-based developer Jones Development Co. LLC regarding the development of the Meek’s property.

JDC specializes in developing industrial real estate, particularly build-to-suit facilities, but Whitney said last month no set plans for the property were in place with specific manufacturing tenants.

At a Planning & Zoning meeting, Whitney indicated a lease agreement was under discussion. He could not be reached for additional comment by press time.

Following the July 13 vote, a representative of JDC referred questions about the project to FedEx Ground spokesman David Westrick, who declined to disclose details.

Council also approved redevelopment plans for Greek housing at Missouri State University along the east side of Robberson Avenue between East Madison and Grand streets. Springfield real estate consultant Burning Tree Consulting LLC plans to develop student-housing for MSU sororities and fraternities.

The company intends to build three, four-story duplex-style buildings with six units altogether; each unit could be built with up to 25 bedrooms.