Rezoning for care facility passes, street extension tabled

Residents in the area of a proposed residential care facility in southwest Springfield will likely get new neighbors, but it appears they could avoid an unpopular street extension.

At its Dec. 14 meeting, Springfield City Council considered two issues related to approximately 11 acres in the 500-600 blocks of West Sunset Street. The property sits southwest of Sunset and Campbell Avenue.

Maples Healthcare has requested that council rezone the land to office and general retail from single-family residential. Council granted that request, but a separate bill addressing the extension of a street within the proposed development was tabled.

At a public hearing held on Nov. 23, neighbors of the site voiced their opposition to the proposed extension of Market Avenue, a short street off West Greenwood Street. City staff recommended the extension, which would connect Greenwood and Sunset.

The city's recommendation is standard policy. Years ago, Market Avenue was started with the intent that, when the property was developed, the developers would continue the street, said Ralph Rognstad, Director of Planning & Development. It also increases connectivity, which helps to improve traffic circulation and encourage walking, he said.

But the developers and neighbors don't want the expansion. Neighbors are worried about the extra traffic, and the developer would rather avoid the extra expenses.

Some council members, including Jerry Compton and Cindy Rushefsky, argued that the neighborhood has access to main streets Campbell, Sunset and Grant, and the added connectivity was unnecessary.

"Unless there is a really compelling reason, we should allow neighborhoods to function as they would like to," Rushefsky said.

Now that the issue has been tabled, council members will have a discussion and decide whether they think the street is necessary. If they decide not to require that street, the developer would then be able to rework the preliminary plat and resubmit it without the road extension.

Stray Dog tax abatement

Council approved a $2.1 million redevelopment plan submitted by Stray Dog Redevelopment Corp. to renovate three downtown Springfield buildings, 221 W. Phelps St., 503 Boonville Ave., and 429-431 Boonville Ave. The plan asked council to declare the area blighted, which now qualifies the development for abatement of property taxes under Missouri Chapter 353, an urban redevelopment law.

The 16,000-square-foot project would create retail, office and residential space, and serve as a manufacturing center for Unleashed Life LLC, a luxury pet products company that the developers own. Stray Dog Redevelopment was created in August by business partners J. Kent Martin, Nathan Taylor and Cindy Brooks, according to Missouri Secretary of State filings.

Under the redevelopment plan, and in accordance with the Chapter 353 statute, the development's property taxes would remain at its current assessed value for 10 years and be assessed 50 percent of its property tax up to 25 years.

Transportation center

Council members approved a nearly $2.5 million construction bid submitted by Denali Construction for the Springfield-MoDOT Regional Transportation Management Center.

The center, to be built at 1107 W. Chestnut Expressway, will house city and Missouri Department of Transportation staff and serve as a central point for managing traffic signals, 911 technical services and responding to roadway incidents.

The construction cost will be split between a fiscal 2003 congressional earmark and state and city funds earned through the V-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.