Council asks Cox to provide development master plan

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Before City Council approves the rezoning of more than 30 acres of Cox Health Systems' property on East Primrose Street, it will review the hospital's long-range master plan.|ret||ret||tab|

That decision came after council listened to a public hearing bill and two speakers on the issue at the April 8 City Council meeting. |ret||ret||tab|

Driving the request is a rezoning bill for land on the north side of the 700-900 blocks of East Primrose Street. The 31.5- acre tract lies just east of Kickapoo High School. |ret||ret||tab|

Representing Cox was Geoffrey Butler of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, who said the rezoning from a medium-density multifamily residential district to a planned development district would facilitate "satellite" parking for nearly 500 cars during the hospital's construction of a three- to four-story, 400- to 500-car parking garage to be built on its existing south campus.|ret||ret||tab|

Butler added that development of the site would occur in 10 to 20 years, but specific plans are unknown at this time.|ret||ret||tab|

"They have no plans right now," Butler said. "They have set it aside for future development, and the development that is going to occur on it is unknown because they don't need it right now."|ret||ret||tab|

What is planned to occur on the land is the construction of a parking lot and an addition to the Ronald McDonald House in a land swap agreement. Among other possible uses, said Butler, are medical offices and clinics adjacent to the parking lot.|ret||ret||tab|

Councilwoman Teri Hacker asked to review the master plan as was done when St. John's, Ozarks Technical Community College and Southwest Missouri State University sought approval for their developments, she said. Council will vote on the bill April 22.|ret||ret||tab|

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Billboard issues|ret||ret||tab|

Another debated issue was the public hearing of an ordinance to prohibit construction of new billboards in the city.|ret||ret||tab|

Members of the outdoor advertising industry, which has found this community profitable for years based on the nearly 500 billboards in Greene County strongly opposed the ordinance. Eleven speakers expressed their concerns with the proposal, claiming it will hinder the area's travel and tourism business.|ret||ret||tab|

Carol Williamson, the first of seven speakers against "billboard blightness," disagreed. She favors the amendment because it will "make Springfield more appealing to visitors." Williamson said that Missouri has three times as many billboards as any of its eight bordering states.|ret||ret||tab|

If approved in two weeks, the ordinance would increase spacing requirements between billboards to 1,500 feet on all roads except for Interstate 44 where it will be 2,500 feet, limit the maximum billboard size to 400 square feet and prohibit placement of signs on buildings.|ret||ret||tab|

However, the ordinance would not stop new construction of billboards on state-regulated roads like I-44 and I-65, and Glenstone and Chestnut.|ret||ret||tab|

Bob Hosmer, senior planner for the city, presented the proposal to council and said it would follow the guidelines set forth by the Springfield-Greene County Community Physical Image Plan set in 1999.|ret||ret||tab|

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Rosewood Estates|ret||ret||tab|

The planned development for a 40-tract housing complex named Rosewood Estates passed by a 7-2 vote.|ret||ret||tab|

Before approval, three motions were granted requiring the developer, Zimmerman Properties, to plant evergreen trees every 20 feet, provide a fence along the southern lot lines and construct a vertical fence instead of a horizontal fence on the northern side.|ret||ret||tab|

The development will be built on the south side of Sunset Street between Jefferson and National avenues.|ret||ret||tab|

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Retail development|ret||ret||tab|

Larino Properties LLC is proposing a retail development on about 37 acres of land located at the southeast corner of South West Bypass and Chestnut Avenue.|ret||ret||tab|

Some of the land will need to be rezoned from an office district and highway commercial district to a planned development district.|ret||ret||tab|

Representatives from Larino Proper-ties showed council a drawing of the planned development, which will be anchored by a 95,000-square-foot facility with an attached garden center.|ret||ret||tab|

Councilmembers Ralph Manley and Denny Whayne favored the proposal, saying it is an appropriate location for retail development. Whayne added that he is excited to see vacant land turned into "structures, jobs and tax money."|ret||ret||tab|

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Jordan Valley financing|ret||ret||tab|

Council heard a first reading bill that would authorize the issuance of bond anticipation notes to provide interim financing for a portion of the costs of the design services and demolition for Jordan Valley Park. It also would authorize the formation of a final terms committee and approve an interlocal cooperation agreement.|ret||ret||tab|

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Ski Shack land|ret||ret||tab|

Ski Shack owner Greg Mustain would like to see almost two acres of land near his store at 3165 S. Campbell Ave. rezoned from a general retail district to a planned development district. If the rezoning bill is approved, he will sell and service motor boats on the property.|ret||ret||tab|

But Councilman Bob Chancellor expressed some concern for six nearby homes on Erie Street, and Councilman John Wylie asked about water run-off problems.|ret||ret||tab|

Mustain told council he thinks landscape changes will help to reduce any run-off. [[In-content Ad]]