City Beat: City Council gives approval of Vision 20/20 housing plan

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Neighborhood plan gets approval|ret||ret||tab|

During its July 10 meeting, City Council unanimously approved an amended version of the city's neighborhood plan. More than 50 citizens attended the meeting. Prior to the vote, several took advantage of the opportunity to express views for and against the plan.|ret||ret||tab|

Initially intended as a blueprint for Springfield's neighborhoods, the plan contained language objected to by Realtors, renters and developers. Portions of the original document, which was developed by volunteers from Springfield neighborhoods, that became the focus of debate included housing court, time-of-sale inspections and language that could have influenced the design of new housing going up in the city's neighborhoods in the future.|ret||ret||tab|

Proponents of the amended bill builders, sellers and landlords applauded the final version, stating that the language contained in the bill, which had been meant to be an idea document only, had begun to sound like law.|ret||ret||tab|

Speaking for Springfield's Apartment and Housing Association, executive director Lynn Richards referred to the plan as a truly collaborative effort that now supports clear and concise language. Richards said the goal of all parties was the same: to create affordable and safe housing. Earlier versions didn't do that, she said.|ret||ret||tab|

Paul Dizmang, president of the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors, said the 1,500 members of his organization also supported the amended version of the plan. Emphasizing that Realtors share the desire for the basic elements of the plan safe, secure neighborhoods and good economic investments Dizmang told the council that supporting tougher policies could create a financial hardship for some landlords and lead to abandoned rental properties in the city.|ret||ret||tab|

Supporters of the original document were quick to warn council members that the items deleted from the plan left it watered down and their absence would come back to haunt neighborhoods in certain parts of the city. |ret||ret||tab|

Several warned the council that if the items were left out, they would be back to deal with them in another form, perhaps as ordinances. |ret||ret||tab|

Stan Robinson, who lives on North Summit Avenue, supported the original language in the plan. He told the council that builders and sellers of houses had managed to have the heart of the program eliminated. Addressing the council, Nancy Hackett said she had spent months working on the plan and was encouraged by the final draft. She said she was discouraged when a small, powerful special interest group was able to change all the hard work that went into the plan.|ret||ret||tab|

During the period for citizen input, Mayor Lee Gannaway asked how the city handled housing problems under the existing code and was informed by city staff that the city could act only when it had received a complaint. Several neighborhood residents were quick to point out that the complaint had to be from an occupant of the house and that city staff were often less than helpful when complaints were addressed to them.|ret||ret||tab|

Before the vote, councilwoman Shelia Wright encouraged city staff members present to take action on complaints received by the city. Wright specifically asked if there was a way to get around the requirement that an occupant of the house had to sign the complaint. |ret||ret||tab|

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Bill involves subdivision|ret||ret||tab|

One first reading bill on the agenda was a special ordinance approving the preliminary plat of the Hamra-Morris subdivision, located in the southwest quadrant of Schoolcraft Freeway and East Sunshine Street, as an addition to the city and eliminating the subdivision regulations requirement for a fee-in-lieu for a sidewalk and authorizing the acceptance of land or easements to the city upon the applicant filing and recording a final plat that conforms to the preliminary plat.|ret||ret||tab|

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Consent agenda|ret||ret||tab|

Second reading bills focused on construction of streets and sewers. A bill authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission concerning construction improvements along West Bypass, between Nichols and Division, was passed unanimously, as was a special ordinance vacating a public street located on the east side of Highway 65 between Cherokee and Berkeley streets.|ret||ret||tab|

A special ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Drury University for the installation and maintenance of a communication conduit was also passed unanimously.|ret||ret||tab|

A special ordinance authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with River Road Estates, LLC for a sewer trunk in the vicinity of Weaver Road and Golden Avenue for property owned by River Road Estates, LLC, was passed. River Road Estates, LLC, will pay a portion of the construction costs, which will be reimbursed with a portion of the connection fees collected by the city. Costs to the city for the fiscal year 2000-2001 will be $134,120.|ret||ret||tab|

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