The would-be developer of a $6 million Hampton Inn said he’s not giving up on his plans to build a five-story hotel in the south Springfield area, but he’s done seeking help from Springfield City Council.
Earl Steinert, owner of two Hampton Inn properties in Springfield, failed for the second time in a year to convince council to approve a zoning change that he said would make his hotel plan financially viable.
At the Aug. 27 meeting, council split its vote 4-4 on a measure to increase the floor-area ratio on roughly 2.5 acres across from Millwood Park subdivision. According to city statutes, ordinances must receive five votes to pass.
Steinert and his representatives told council members at a July 30 public hearing that restrictions in the zoning of the 6300 block of Farmers Park Road, just southeast of Highway 65 and Evans Road, only allowed for a three-story hotel with roughly 60 rooms. Steinert’s hotel proposal called for 106 rooms.
In November, the developer failed at a bid to change the floor-area ratio in the 1900 block of East Republic Road. In both cases, council members who voted against the modification cited neighbors’ concerns.
“It’s a question of balance,” said Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky, who voted against the latest zoning change. “A hotel has some obligation to blend in with the neighborhood.”
She said she was troubled to see that with both proposals Steinert was unwilling to adjust his plans to address neighbor concerns. “He’s asking us to make an exception, which means we become parties to what he wants to do,” Rushefsky said.
Residents from the 34-home Millwood Park subdivision said the Hampton Inn would loom large over the neighborhood. Several homeowners said a three-story hotel would not be too intrusive.
Before casting his nay vote, Councilman John Rush said the five-story hotel would likely decrease home values in the immediate area.
“I don’t find the developer at fault here, but that doesn’t change the charge to council. The perception is that the hotel would depreciate house values,” Rush said.
Councilwoman Jan Fisk and Mayor Bob Stephens also voted against the measure, saying the neighbors had valid concerns.
Those in favor of the zoning change – council members Tom Bieker, Doug Burlison, Jerry Compton and Jeff Seifried – said they believed council should be promoting economic development and not standing in the way of such projects.
“We say the city is open for business … but we continue to find reason after reason not to promote economic development,” Seifried said.
Burlison said the hotel would create jobs, and Compton said the project’s proximity to the $116 million Mercy Orthopedic Hospital and Highway 65 make it consistent with the area’s needs.
“Either we support economic development or we don’t,” Bieker said.
Councilman Scott Bailes withdrew from the public hearing at the July 30 meeting, citing a professional association with the nearby Millwood Golf & Racquet Club. Both city staff and Planning and Zoning Commissioners had recommended approval.
On Aug. 28, Steinert said he was disappointed that the ordinance failed, and he would now consider other sites. Steinert said one council member, whom he declined to name, had previously stated support but voted against the project.
Similar to the property on East Republic Road, Steinert said his purchase of the land on Farmers Park Road was contingent upon council approving the zoning modifications. He said he wasn’t giving up on the hotel plans, but he would seek a property that already is zoned for five stories.
“I won’t go before council again. I’ll find something that is already zoned [properly], or I won’t do it,” Steinert said.
Discrimination bill on holdThe vast majority of the nearly 500 people city officials estimated were in attendance at the Aug. 27 meeting left following the approval of a motion by Councilman Bieker to table a bill that could have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected categories in the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. The ordinance is designed to prevent discrimination in the areas of employment, public housing and accommodations.
Council voted 7-2 in favor of tabling the proposal, with Burlison and Compton voting against the move.
The mayor said the issue should go before a citizen-led task force – similar to the Police-Fire Pension Task Force – to further discuss the issue and make a recommendation to council.
“Obviously, this is going to take some time, and City Council is not going to rush this process. This is an important issue for our community and needs to be given due consideration,” Stephens said.
He said an application would be developed in the coming weeks and the city would post details about participating on the task force at
SpringfieldMo.gov.
Council’s action tabled both the original bill calling for changes to the ordinance and a bill sponsored by Seifried, which was on the Aug. 27 agenda and proposed to put the issue before voters in November.
