Office/retail development proposed for southeast

Developer Bill Jester wants to build an "upscale convenience store" and retail center on the corner of Lone Pine and Battlefield.

Jester is now trying to rezone a 2.24-acre tract at the northeast corner of Lone Pine and Battlefield to a planned development. The case is set to go before City Council March 6.

The city of Springfield owns about 42 acres adjacent to the property which is to be left as open space for recreation and flood control, according to the zoning and subdivision report on Jester's proposed planned development. Jester's Great Wall Construction plans to build not only the retail center, but also a portion of a trail for Ozark Greenways on the site, he said.

"Our property is in a spot that runs adjacent to the Galloway Creek Greenways trail, so we agreed to construct about 500 feet of that trail," Jester said.

Terry Whaley, executive director of Ozark Greenways, said the private nonprofit group had been working with Jester on the trail project.

"It's really a win-win situation for us. It allows us to stretch our dollars because a section of this trail is being paid for," Whaley said.

Jester will construct the trail at his cost, Whaley said.

The Galloway Creek Greenway now originates in Sequiota Park, about a quarter mile south of Battlefield on Lone Pine. The trail proceeds south to the Springfield Conservation Nature Center. The Jester addition would be part of an extension of the trail in the opposite direction: from the park north to Battlefield, under Battlefield and on to Pershing School, Whaley said.

The trail is just one component of this project, Jester said. The proposed Battlefield Towers will be a total of 26,000 square feet of retail and office space, Jester said.

He has the 2.24 acres under contract to acquire from Plaza Realty, he said. The office and retail center will be built around a "tower concept," Jester said, with ribbed roof architecture and a structure that resembles a tower on each corner of the building.

Jester and his company, Great Wall Construction, have developed such centers as Savannah Square and Georgetown Square in Springfield.

"We try to give each one of our projects a unique feel. This one will be no different," Jester said.

Neighbors in the area are concerned about flooding and water runoff the development's additional impervious surfaces would contribute to the area. Residents from the Southern Hills subdivision and the Southeast Springfield Neighborhood Association expressed concerns about the development at a Feb. 3 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Planning and Zoning members voted 5-4 to recommend the project. City staff has also favorably recommended the proposal.

One member of Planning and Zoning, Kaye Parker, said at the Feb. 3 meeting she was against the development.

"I cannot support his as a planned development. I think it would be harmful to everyone," Parker said during the meeting.

Speaking as a representative of the Southeast Springfield Neighborhood Association, Parker said the neighborhood resents the fact that no one from the developer's office, the city or the county has attempted to meet with the neighbors about the development.

Jester said he attempted to schedule a meeting with Dan Chiles, a neighborhood association member, but that Chiles could not be reached at the time. Jester added that he would like to meet with the neighbors before the March 6 council meeting.

"I have attempted to keep the neighbors fully informed. I want them to know that this development will not negatively affect water quality issues," Jester said.

Jester said the time is ripe for development of that corner because the area is underserved.

"There is no convenience center to serve the westbound traffic there," Jester said.

The property is now zoned general retail and residential single family, but would be rezoned to a planned development district to allow for the mixed office and retail use, Jester said. His company has completed its site plans and architectural concept for the development, he said. No tenants have yet been named, but there are several people interested in the convenience center.

"We've talked to several people about the convenience store aspect, and have had a lot of interest but haven't made a final decision on that yet," Jester said.

Jester said he hopes the development will be an example of cooperation between a developer and the greenways effort.

"I hope this will be the greatest example of cooperation between trails and development Springfield has seen for a while," Jester said.

Jester said he intends to close the sale of the property at the end of March, if City Council votes in favor of the rezoning. Construction would start in April with completion in July.