During last night’s Springfield City Council meeting, Loren Cook Co. Vice President Loren Cook II told the governing body sidewalk requirements implemented in 2014 are now holding back the manufacturer’s plans to build a 7,100-square-foot addition and add around 20 jobs.
At its
Aug. 10 meeting, council unanimously approved a proposal to rezone two vacant residential lots just west of the sprawling headquarters for the manufacturer of industrial blowers and exhaust systems to allow for the office-space addition at 2015 E. Dale St.
But there’s a snag, Cook said.
With the rezoning to heavy manufacturing complete, before construction can begin, city code calls for a sidewalk to be added along the entire southern and eastern edge of the 328,000-square-foot Loren Cook plant. Cook said that would cost roughly $40,000. Under the ordinance, companies also can choose to make a payment in lieu of construction so the city can build the sidewalk.
Addressing council last night, Cook spoke in favor of a bill introduced and sponsored by Councilwoman Kristi Fulnecky that would permit the city’s Administrative Review Committee to allow exceptions to the sidewalk requirements. According to information in the bill, council approved a measure in January 2014 that requires commercial developers to construct sidewalks in front of their properties at the time of development.
Since there was no existing sidewalk in front of its the Cook Co. plant, it is now required along the full premises. The rule passed last year, Cook said, places an undue burden on his business and others seeking expansion.
“In this situation, they are asking us to add a sidewalk along the entire perimeter of our facility. Right now, there is just one little section of sidewalks in the area. The rest of the area, even that residential section, and the area by Pepsi and Bass Pro, there are no sidewalks at all,” Cook said, adding the plant expansion would make way for at least 19 new information technology jobs – which he said are currently being filled in Kansas City, Dallas and India.
In all, over 2,500 square feet of sidewalks would be required for the 19-acre property.
Cook wasn’t the only one who said the substantial sidewalk addition was unnecessary.
“We need to add jobs. We don’t need to place burdens on businesses,” Fulnecky said.
Greater Springfield Board of Realtors Executive Jessica Hickok, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. Vice President of Corporate Strategy Sally Hargis and Buxton-Kubik-Dodd Inc. President Brian Kubik each spoke in favor of amending the requirements.
“I’m advocating on behalf of the business community because while Mr. Cook has made his argument very eloquently, there could be others,” Hargis said. “My own company, Ozarks Coca-Cola, could be before you with a similar problem. We are getting ready to expand, taking on some new territory and adding some folks in new roles, and we have no place to put them. We are probably going to have to expand to do that.
“I think this ordinance is a good attempt to balance the needs of our community without overburdening the business community that’s trying to grow.”
The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously opposed amending the sidewalk requirements, according to Planning and Development Director Mary Lilly Smith. She said some members were against lessening sidewalk requirements, while others were against its review committee having to determine who would be granted exceptions. City staff, she said, supports the changes.
“We think we can be overreaching in certain circumstances. We think those circumstances are pretty rare,” Smith said.
Councilman Craig Hosmer, who initially expressed support for the Planning and Zoning Commission decision, said after hearing Cook speak, the requirement the company faces is unreasonable.
“I think the idea of requiring sidewalks with new developments is good,” Hosmer said. “Maybe the zoning laws need to be looked at because, I agree, this doesn’t make any sense.”
