City Council weighs south-side rezoning decision

A standing-room-only audience at City Council chambers spoke volumes to council during the Nov. 18 meeting. Residents of Southern Hills and members of the Southeast Springfield Neighborhood Association who were speaking to a rezoning bill near their homes will know Dec. 16 if their voices were heard.

Council's vote on whether to rezone the single-family residential district to a planned development at its next meeting will end a six-year land dispute.

Plans from local developers John Q. Hammons and Lee McLean, owners of 17 acres of land at South Lone Pine Avenue and Southern Hills Boulevard, have met strong opposition in all forms. The latest proposal a Greenlawn Funeral home on five acres there is scaled back from earlier plans that included office buildings.

Still, SESNA president Dan Chiles said the group will fight this "commercial intrusion" until the end even at a cost. Chiles said the group is prepared to purchase the land to keep the area as greenspace.

The problem is, any sales offer hinges on council's vote. According to attorney Craig Lowther, who represents Hammons and McLean, the developers will sell the land for $25,000 an acre, assuming the land is rezoned. The neighborhood association would have 12 months to come up with the money.

"The developers think that $25,000 an acre is way low," Lowther said, but "they are willing to sacrifice it ... in an effort to get their rezoning. If the rezoning is not passed, all incentive to sell it for any price like that is not there. The property will not be available to SESNA."

Instead, the developers say they will build as many as 80 single family homes on the 17 acres a threat Chiles views as a "negotiating tactic" by the experienced businessmen.

The Realtor for the property, Mark Harrell, said the land has been valued at as much as $47,000 an acre.

To further complicate the matter, SESNA is only willing to purchase the entire 17 acres, something the developers have said will not happen.

Chiles hinted that the group would seek financial help from the city.

Councilwoman Teri Hacker, who has been in close conversation with members of both sides, said city assistance is not likely. "The question is," Hacker asked Chiles, "could you pull this off without city money and within 12 months?"

Chiles response: "My feeling is that there is a commitment on the neighbors' part to do this. We will make that happen."

The ball is in council's court.

"If you think it's a bad plan, I want you to vote no," Lowther told council. "If you think it is a good plan, I would ask you to vote yes."

EPA grant

In other action, council considered accepting a $200,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant to perform additional environmental assessments in Jordan Valley Park and center city.

City Manager Tom Finnie said the city already has spent $150,000 of EPA money for assessments. "This would be our second round of assessments," he said.

Parking garage bonds

Council voted to authorize leasehold revenue bonds for the $10.6 million Jordan Valley Car Park, to be constructed on the land west of Hammons Tower. The city broke ground Nov. 20.

DeWitt & Associates Inc. will construct the 977-space parking garage. Walker Parking Consultants is the architect, while HOK Sport Venue Event and Creative Ink also assisted in the design.

The layout includes retail and office space on the street level of the garage. The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau is the first tenant to announce plans to locate its offices in the Car Park.