City Beat: City eyes land in Jordan Valley West Meadows

by Eric Olson

SBJ Reporter

eolson@sbj.net

Springfield city officials are pleased with development of Jordan Valley Park. It has attracted people to center city and initiated a revival of downtown development. And in May, Jordan Valley Park received the Missouri Department of Economic Development's 2004 Community Development Award for the state's best community redevelopment project.

But city officials aren't done yet. A bill read at the July 6 City Council meeting proposes condemning about half an acre at North Main, between Olive and Water, for Jordan Valley Park's West Meadow expansion.

West Meadow, part of the original Jordan Valley Park master plan, is set to feature traditional park space and walking trails.

Union Pacific Railroad owns the largely unused property, which would be used as parking for the Universal Paint Building that is currently under renovation, park space and for stormwater control.

Springfield City Manager Tom Finnie calls the condemnation "friendly," much like other Jordan Valley Park condemnation proceedings.

"We are not arguing over price or anything like that," Finnie said.

The city and railroad have agreed on a sale price, but Finnie said it is easier to transfer a land title through condemnation.

The Universal Paint project at 319 N. Main is a public/private partnership between downtown developer Scott Tillman and the city. Springfield architecture firm Butler, Rosenbury & Partners intends to move into the building upon completion, possibly later this year. It is a more than $3 million historic renovation.

The city has designated Universal Paint as the gateway to Jordan Valley Park's West Meadow.

Weaver planned development

Concern expressed by property owners and at least two council members didn't slow passage of a planned development for the west side of Weaver Road and Campbell Avenue in south Springfield.

Council unanimously approved rezoning 39 acres there to facilitate a mixed-use development of retail, office and residential buildings. Just before voting, councilmen Conrad Griggs and Bob Jones agreed with homeowners who fear the stormwater runoff from the development may spill onto their properties.

"I'm a little concerned by this," Griggs told council.

Griggs said he lives in proximity to the development and called concerns of adjacent homeowner Charles Dischinger "legitimate."

Dischinger spoke out during a public hearing on the bill, asking council and staff to reconsider this plan.

Councilman Bob Jones echoed Griggs' comments. Neither Griggs nor Jones was at the public hearing, but both said they watched the meeting on videotape.

Griggs suggested Springfield Public Works look into a regional watershed program to predict the amount water generated by a given impervious surface.

But Jones wondered if that was feasible. He said predicting the amount of water flow "is like predicting the weather."

The approved council bill is a substitute from the original.

Rail crossing tabled

A proposal to close a Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad crossing at Broadway and Kearney was tabled indefinitely.

City officials said before council votes on the bill, another public drop-in session should be held.

The proposal, which underwent a June 21 public hearing, is opposed by businesses and residents that use the intersection as a north-south arterial. During a public session in January, city officials learned that 15 property owners out of 28 who attended mostly Woodland Heights and Grant Beach neighborhood residents were not in favor of closing the rail crossing.

City Clerk Brenda Cirtin said a date for another public session had not been established at press time.