Springfield City Council members are hoping a bill passed unanimously at a Nov. 9 meeting will help prevent urban sprawl and encourage improvements to existing properties.
The bill amends a zoning ordinance related to accessory structures, such as garages and coach houses. The ordinance limits the height of accessory structures to 16 feet, unless a special exception is made, and the amendment loosens some of the criteria for an exception.
Previously, a lot had to be a half-acre or larger for an exception to be made. Now, a secondary structure higher than 16 feet can be built - even if it's on a lot smaller than a half-acre - as long as its height and style are consistent with the primary building. It also must fit in with the character of the neighborhood.
Councilman Dan Chiles said the bill offers more flexibility when it comes to making property improvements. But it also protects nearby properties by ensuring a new structure fits with the overall feel of the block.
The hope is that loosening the requirements for an exception to the height restriction will encourage improvements to established neighborhoods and discourage urban sprawl.
"Our motto for 50 years has been, 'Well, there are cornfields out there, we'll just pave them,'" Chiles said.
Council members believe the amendment to the ordinance will promote infill in areas such as center city.
Airport study funding
Council considered a bill that would accept a $229,500 grant from the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. The money, which comes from an aviation jet fuel tax refund, would cover the cost of a series of promotional and marketing studies for the Springfield-Branson National Airport.
Gary Cyr, the airport's senior director of aviation, said this would be the second year for the state grant for marketing and promotion studies. The first, issued last year, was for $129,000. The studies help to determine where passengers are going and how many are traveling to certain destinations. The airport provides that information to the airlines to encourage the addition of new routes. The 2008 studies, Cyr said, helped the airport to solicit routes to Phoenix and Los Angeles.
Council is scheduled to vote on the grant during its Nov. 23 meeting.
Cyr also provided an update on the airport, which has seen a 5 percent increase in total passengers through the end of October, compared to the same time period in 2008. By the end of December, Cyr said total passengers should exceed 800,000.
