Council gives rezoning green light to CoxHealth pediatric plans

CoxHealth is one step closer to the development of a stand-alone pediatric clinic following rezoning approval of south-side land by Springfield City Council.

At its meeting last night, council approved the rezoning of 29 acres of property at 851 E. Primrose St. to a government and institutional use district with a conditional overlay from its original planned development designation. The measure was requested by property owner Lester E. Cox Medical Center, which plans to establish a pediatric clinic along with other unspecified future uses, according to council documents.

An amendment to the measure, approved at council's Jan. 27 meeting, removes a requirement for a buildout of Kimbrough Avenue at its approach to the property. The amendment was offered by Councilmember Derek Lee, who noted the requirement was based on a 1980 traffic study.

“I just think if the road is not needed, it would serve our community better to have that money spent for that road, which is substantial, to be spent on health care, and particularly the pediatric care that this particular site is going to afford,” Lee said when proposing the amendment.

The rezoning, as amended, was passed yesterday by a vote of 8-0, with Councilmember Heather Hardinger, who is employed by CoxHealth, abstaining.

At the Jan. 27 meeting, Rod Schaffer, vice president of facilities management for CoxHealth, said the region needs comprehensive pediatric care.

“Our plan is to meet those needs by creating a stand-alone pediatric outpatient center on that site, which will allow families to stay close to home and the care that’s needed,” he said.

The property is the current site of Amanda Belle’s Farm, a hospital farm and agricultural incubator site that will remain in place until relocation is needed, according to hospital officials.

Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Simpson said he is supportive of the plan.

“I think that this is going to be a great expansion of the health care options available for children in our region,” he said last night. “I’m glad that Cox is making use of this property in this way.”

CoxHealth officials did not respond to a request for comment on council's rezoning decision by deadline.

CoxHealth President and CEO Max Buetow recently told Springfield Business Journal Executive Editor Christine Temple for the CEO Roundtable podcast on health systems that the facility planned at the site would be a "major ambulatory center for a medical home for pediatric patients in the community."

"I think the community's going to be really excited about all the momentum we've already built around the project," Buetow said, stopping short of providing a concrete timeline for the project. "We'll look forward to sharing some more announcements this spring and summer."

CoxHealth is working on pediatric services through a partnership with St. Louis Children’s Hospital that was announced in May.

The Springfield Planning & Zoning Commission in December voted to recommend approval of the CoxHealth rezoning application, according to past reporting.