City planners hone in on 'smart growth'

City officials reported in January that the value of new construction in 2007 was $117.9 million, making it the third year in a row that construction totals topped $100 million.

Don Stephens, city planning director, said his department is reviewing concepts through the Smart Growth Network, which offers alternatives to urban and rural sprawl. Stephens said his department has been incorporating Smart Growth concepts into planning since he began with the city in 1995.

“Everything we tried to incorporate has been in new development,” he said. “Now, we want to redevelop some existing older neighborhood and downtown areas.”

Smart Growth Network is coordinated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Division of Development, Community and Environment. According to SGN’s Web site, www.smartgrowth.org, the ideal community or neighborhood mixes housing with commercial and retail services. It is also pedestrian-oriented with plenty of open spaces and other outdoor and environmental amenities.

“With Smart Growth concepts, you’re dealing with neighborhoods that are user-friendly and are sustainable in of themselves,” Stephens said, naming residential developments along Branson Hills Parkway as good examples. “Branson Hills is built on the concept of sidewalks. You’ve got the RecPlex, the golf course, a grocery store and a gas station.”

Living and shopping

Retail development along Branson Hills Parkway is a good example of retail explosion.

Home Depot, Target and TJ Maxx opened in early 2006, and Kohl’s opened a few months ago. A Wal-Mart Supercenter is scheduled to open in the spring, and nearly a dozen more retailers are under construction, according to Roy Mangun of St. Louis-based Archimages Inc., architect for the $585,000 The Shoppes Branson Hills. Mangun said opening in midsummer are Bed, Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, Michael’s, MC Sports, Dress Barn, Shoe Carnival, Maurice’s, PetCo and Books A Million.

One of two subdivisions under construction along Branson Hills Parkway is the $14 million Villas at Branson Hills by Epcon Communities.

“One of Epcon’s guidelines is to be located close to services so that the homeowners have opportunities close to them,” said developer Steve Welko.

The subdivision, located about a mile from the Payne Stewart Tribute Golf Course in HCW LLC’s Branson Hills, also will have a clubhouse with fitness, billiard and community rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and putting green. The subdivision also is marked with a network of sidewalks and extensive landscaping.

Adjacent to Epcon’s Villas is the gated Branson Hills community, an HCW Development Co. LLC project that surrounds the Payne Stewart Golf Course. The subdivision includes 523 single family lots and 600 condominium units. In addition to the same amenities as the Villas, HCW CEO Rick Huffman said the community will include a commercial strip center that will house a medical office and light retail.

“We’ve been a proponent of Smart Growth for quite some time,” Huffman said.

Vertical growth

Another principle of Smart Growth is to encourage builders to develop projects vertically.

Vertical growth, also known as compact design, is the focus of Branson’s planning department in 2008, but it’s on a scale that might include such projects integrating condominiums or parking space within existing commercial space.

Stephens said the city wants to look at “what we can do with what we have done” regarding targeting growth to existing areas. He said his department would be discussing ideas with the city planning and zoning commission with the goal of eventually encouraging builders to reinvest in older Branson neighborhoods and commercial areas.[[In-content Ad]]