104 acres for proposed north-side development rezoned by council

Springfield City Council last night voted to approve the rezoning of 104 acres of property in the 3200-3400 blocks of North Vernon Road to a planned development from a single-family housing designation.

Hulston Investments Inc. and Laura Hawkins-Morris et al. proposed the rezoning to make way for Hulston Subdivision, which is consistent with a mixed residential place type specified in the Forward SGF strategic plan for the area.

The development includes an area of single-family homes on minimum lot sizes of 4,000 square feet, an area of garden apartments with eight to 20 units, an area with six-plex multifamily buildings with garages and stacked duplexes and an area with cottage housing that has small, freestanding single-family buildings intended for one owner on a single lot, according to the staff report. The development plans also include a commercial area.

Council passed the measure 8-1, with Councilmember Craig Hosmer opposing it. There was no discussion at last night’s meeting, which followed a June 9 public hearing in which members of the development community and neighborhood residents offered feedback on the proposed development.

A successful protest petition was filed by 30.8% of the residents who live within 185 feet of the proposed development, and that meant a six-vote margin, rather than a simple majority, was required for its passage. At the June 9 hearing, some residents expressed concerns about the commercial portion of the development and its density compared to the single-family residential neighborhood abutting it, as well as traffic and other issues.

After the vote, some two dozen members of the audience stood up and departed the meeting room.

The city’s Planning & Zoning Commission recommended denial of the application in May by a tie vote of 4-4, though city Planning and Development staff recommended approval.

In the consent agenda – a portion of the agenda voted upon by council without discussion at the start of each meeting – council OK’d the dedication of public streets and easements to the city for the Hulston Subdivision upon the applicant filing a final plat.