City Beat: City Council clears way for east-side duplex subdivision

Home builder Mike Dobbs cleared the final hurdle to his $2 million residential development in the 2200 block of East Catalpa Street at the Feb. 23 Springfield City Council meeting. Council approved Dobbs' requested rezoning of about 15 acres at the southeast corner of Catalpa and Barnes to facilitate a duplex subdivision. The property, previously zoned for single-family use, was changed to a residential townhouse district.

Infrastructure construction is expected to begin this month, Dobbs said, and should conclude by the end of summer. Total build-out of the duplex community should take one year.

"We're going to do a really nice, upper-end themed community in there. It's not going to be a hodgepodge of architectures," Dobbs said. "There is going to be one way in and one way out."

Dobbs also is developing 10 acres on the north side of Catalpa into Enchanted Forest, a 30-lot, single-family community. Lots are priced between $29,000 and $33,000, Dobbs said, while home values are expected to range from $150,000 to $250,000. Dobbs plans to sell some lots to other builders.

Dobbs and members of the O'Reilly family co-own the rezoned 15 acres under Catalpa Real Estate Co. LLC.

Dobbs has not determined the number of duplexes to be built, though city code allows up to 11 units per acre in a townhouse district. Six or seven units per acre are typical. Dobbs has hired urban planner Bill Yung of Branson's Yung Design Group to design the multifamily community.

Single-family residences surround the property to the north, east and west, and heavy manufacturing property is on the south side, across railroad tracks.

Per the rezoning agreement, Dobbs is required to add necessary right-of-way on Catalpa and Barnes, and solve the property's storm drainage flooding issues.

Dobbs met opposition from property owners neighboring the proposed development back when he originally approached City Council with a rezoning request in June 2002. At that time a stormwater plan was not presented, and the rezoning was null and void. Neighbors were concerned with drainage problems on the lot and traffic congestion. To resolve the drainage issues, Dobbs hired Branson's Rozell Engineering & Survey Co.

City annexation

City Council considered annexing 19.07 acres of land adjacent to existing city limits at the southeast corner of the Valley Water Mill Road and State Highway H/North Glenstone intersection north of Interstate 44.

Property owner Lloyd Wright petitioned the city for annexation, with an eventual multifamily development planned for the property, according to the public hearing bill.

But Gerald Montgomery, associate planner for the city, said there are no definite plans.

A strip center and convenience store exist on the western and northern portions of the property. The southern and eastern portions are vacant and zoned Greene County R-3, multifamily residential.

"I would expect that very soon somebody would try to buy that. Someone will develop that into (residential)," Montgomery said. "The zoning will stay basically the same when it comes into the city."

Zoning of the adjacent city land is residential single family to the south and a planned development district occupied by Praise Assembly of God to the west.

City staff is requesting an effective annexation date of Aug. 1 to allow the property owner to honor an existing lease agreement for the sale of fireworks.

City staff recommends annexation because of the additional property and sales tax it would generate. According to the bill, City Utilities electric, gas and water already serve the property.

No members of the community spoke at the public hearing. A vote is expected at the next scheduled meeting, March 15.[[In-content Ad]]