Council eyes addition at Pickwick and Cherry commercial area

Changes are in the works for a Rountree neighborhood taproom and beer garden, though the owner of Tie & Timber Beer Co. said the company is not ready to make an announcement just yet.

At its Sept. 23 meeting, Springfield City Council considered an amendment to the Rountree Urban Conservation District to allow a variance in allowable minimum ground floor elevations to 4 feet from the current maximum of 6 inches, provided the building has pedestrian amenities, which are part of the Tie & Timber plans.

As part of the council proceedings, Senior City Planner Michael Sparlin showed a rendering of a building planned at the site. It revealed that an existing building, owned by Tie & Timber and currently being used for storage, would be razed and replaced by a two-story building where customers would be served.

Sparlin said the Rountree neighborhood plan identifies strategies to make the commercial area of Cherry Street and Pickwick Avenue safe and pedestrian friendly.

Sparlin said the beer garden would be located behind the building in what he described as a bowl, or a lower elevation. The construction of a lower level of the building would raise the first level above the six inches required.

Councilmember Abe McGull said as the commercial area of the neighborhood grows, the city should be mindful of the increased foot and vehicle traffic.

“As we begin to see the expansion of Cherry and Pickwick, which is economic development in that area, I hope we are thinking about expanding the traffic calming devices we use in that location because that is expanding the footprint,” he said.

He noted that the Rountree Neighborhood Association welcomes the growth of economic development in the area.

Councilmember Derek Lee questioned whether the city should weigh in on such a granular issue, as doing so can slow projects down.

“The regulations in this particular area, we just have so many of them,” Lee said. “To me, it’s overregulated. The city of Springfield shouldn’t be in volved in telling people where to put their finished floor elevation, in my opinion.”

Councilmember Matthew Simpson offered Tie & Timber co-owner Curtis Marshall an opportunity to describe his plans for his business.

Marshall declined.

“I’d really not like to at this time, but it’s going to be a lot of fun – it’s going to be a fun project,” he said.

Council is scheduled to vote on the variance at its Oct. 7 meeting.