City Beat: Council turns down developers' funeral home proposal

A neighborhood association's persistent fight for greenspace preservation in southeast Springfield backfired at the Jan. 27 Springfield City Council meeting.

Council denied a rezoning request for a five-acre funeral home development, and by turning down the funeral home by a 6-2 vote with one abstention put the developers' alternative business plan into action: 40 to 60 single family homes on 17 acres at South Lone Pine Avenue and Southern Hills Boulevard. Crews began clearing trees the day after the council meeting.

The land was originally zoned residential, but owners wanted it switched to a planned development that would have allowed the funeral home.

Southeast Springfield Neighborhood Association has fought development of that land for years, and even offered to purchase it from property owners John Q. Hammons and Lee McLean. The offers were at a below-market price, according to owners' representatives.

The last offer on the table 12 acres to SESNA for $25,000 an acre hinged on the approval of the funeral home development, said attorney Craig Lowther, who represented Hammons and McLean.

Since it failed, Lowther said, the developers went to Plan B.

"Apparently, (SESNA) closed their eyes, crossed their fingers and clicked their heels and said I hope they won't build, I hope they won't build," Lowther said. "The developers have seen the process through the completion, and it was voted down, and so they are going to develop the single family (homes) like they said they would over a year ago."

Councilman Bob Chancellor was disappointed in the outcome. He and Councilwoman Teri Hacker voted for the rezoning. Councilman Conrad Griggs abstained from the vote because he was not on council during much of the discussion on the bill.

"I would much rather see a funeral home on that intersection than 40 to 60 homes," Chancellor said. "There is no doubt in my mind that the developers will do that."

Hacker said a funeral home on five acres would generate much less traffic than homes covering the entire 17 acres.

Other members didn't see it that way.

Councilman John Wylie said he voted against the rezoning because doing so would contradict city ordinances that say planned development districts should only be granted if it does not adversely affect others. SESNA's protest petition of more than 3,000 signatures signaled adverse affects, he said.

In reality, the entire 17 acres may not be developed with homes, according to Mark Harrell, Plaza Realty broker who manages many of Hammons' properties. Harrell said the five acres platted for the Greenlawn funeral home is likely to be purchased by a church. "It's more conducive to that type of use," he said.

The remaining acreage would then be divided into lots and sold to home builders, Harrell said. A preliminary plat for the land is in the works. Harrell anticipates the first phase to begin in 60 to 90 days.

UNA program

In other action, council considered amendeding the Department of Planning and Development budget in the amount of $20,000 to establish a new Urban Neighborhood Alliance program that offers financial assistance to homeowners who need to make necessary home repairs.

Jack Pugh, UNA executive director, said UMB Bank is making the funding available at below-market rates. The city's pledge of $20,000 will help to "shave off' the interest rates for the loans, he said.

"We believe this is a great merit of public and private funds," he said.

Pugh said eligible repairs include roofing, weatherization, plumbing, heating, electrical and structural work.

"This is not for a cosmetic fix-up," he said.

The program is available for established homeowners and new home buyers, Pugh added, but it is not yet known who will be eligible for the loans.

New electric rates

Council also approved City Utilities' first electric rate increase in 11 years. The 3 percent increase is effective in October and is expected to raise typical customers' monthly bills by $1.56, according to Cathy Meyer, CU manager of pricing. Meyer said the additional operating income, which is projected to bring CU's 2004 revenues to $4.3 million, will fund capital projects and pay debt service on the McCartney Generating Station.