City Beat

by Karen E. Culp

Outdoor live music in center city was one of the items for first reading at Aug. 3's City Council meeting.

An ordinance to allow the city manager to issue permits for outdoor live or amplified music in the Center City District would amend a zoning ordinance that does not allow outdoor activity in the Center City Zoning District.

The amendment will allow the city manager to grant permits for outdoor live or amplified music in the Center City District while he works with the Urban Districts Alliance to formulate a permanent ordinance dealing with the matter, said City Manager Tom Finnie.

"The whole purpose of the downtown area and the revitalization efforts therein have focused on it as a unique neighborhood with offerings like (outdoor entertainment). Our goal is ultimately to have UDA as a downtown representative handling the issuing of permits. We're looking for both a short- and a long-term solution," Finnie said.

Councilman Conrad Griggs said he thought the city had too much involvement in activities in center city with regard to regulations.

"It's ridiculous that these groups have to come to us to get banners put up and so forth. We need to take an encompassing look at these activities and develop a plan so that these entities are only coming to us seeking support," Griggs said.

An informational meeting about the ordinance was to have been held at the Landers Theatre Aug. 6. Two citizens spoke on the ordinance; both live near the Key Largo nightclub and were concerned that the ordinance could be generalized to include all of Springfield. Lance T. Brown, executive director of the Urban Districts Alliance, was the sole center city representative speaking, and he spoke in favor of the ordinance.

Another ordinance dealing with center city had to do with the sale of alcoholic beverages on Commercial Street at the Jefferson Footbridge Plaza. The sale of alcohol would be for the Commercial Club's upcoming Bohemian Ball, said Jim Downing, president of the Commercial Club.

"The beer is really such a small part of this event. This is a one-time application, and I believe Tom Finnie is looking at the entire center city culture and evaluating what can be put into place on a permanent basis," Downing said.

The ordinance contains a provision for its repeal as of Sept. 8.

Councilman Tom Carlson said he is concerned about the message being sent with the passage of this ordinance.

"It seems to me we're sending the wrong message to the city, particularly since this ordinance deals with Commercial Street, an area where we've had to deal with people not drinking responsibly in the past," Carlson said.

Councilman Bob Vanaman said he was not as concerned, because the beer at the Commercial Street event "has never been a problem, and this is not really that much different from what has gone on in the past."

The council also held a public hearing on a bill that would rezone the area containing the Payless Cashways building that the Springfield-Greene County Public Library plans to renovate. The bill would change the zoning from Greene County Plot Assignment District to office district zoning. The library plans to close the sale on the building Aug. 27.

The council also adopted the Community Physical Image and Character Plan Element of the Vision 20/20 plan.

Council members in attendance were Mayor Lee Gannaway, Mayor Pro Tem Teri Hacker, Zone 4 Councilman Russell Rhodes, Zone 3 Councilman Conrad Griggs, Zone 1 Councilman Bob Vanaman, General Councilman Tom Carlson, General Councilman Gary Gibson and General Councilman Bob Chancellor.

Council Bills for Public Hearing

98-270. Annexes 159 acres adjacent to the I-44 and Mulroy Road Interchange and East Kearney Street and Mulroy Intersection.

98-271. Annexes 78 acres of the Missouri Department of Transportation right of way and Seville Square property.

98-272. Rezones two acres on the north side of West Silverleaf Street north of Republic Road and west of Scenic Avenue from Greene County multifamily to residential townhouse.

98-273. Rezones three-fourths of an acre on the west side of South Scenic south of Battlefield from heavy manufacturing to industrial commercial .

98-274. Rezones a 10th of an acre on the west side of South Glenstone Avenue south of old Republic Road from manufactured home community to general retail .

98-275. Rezones two acres at the northeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and McClernon Street from single-family residential to highway commercial.

98-276. Rezones six acres on the north side of West Republic Road between Glenn and Homewood avenues from Greene County C-2 to general retail.

98-277. Rezones 2 2/3 acres at the northeast corner of West Grand Street and Western Avenue from single-family resi[[In-content Ad]]