Southeast hotel proposal fails

Developer Earl Steinert failed for the second time in a year to convince Springfield City Council to approve his plans for a five-story hotel in south Springfield. Now, Steinert said he’d have to look elsewhere.

Last night, council split its vote 4-4 on a measure to increase the floor-area ratio on a roughly 2.5-acre lot across from Millwood Park subdivision. Steinert and his representatives told council at the July 30 meeting that the move to change the restrictions in the zoning would make a 106-room Hampton Inn financially viable. Current zoning at the 6300 block of Farmers Park Road, just southeast of Highway 65 and Evans Road, allows for a three-story hotel with roughly 60 rooms, according to Steinert.

In November, Steinert, the owner of two Hampton Inns in Springfield, failed at a bid to change the floor area ratio at the 1900 block of East Republic Road. In both cases, council members who voted against the modification cited concerns of neighbors.

“It's a question of balance,” said Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky, who voted against the zoning change. “A hotel has some obligation to blend in with the neighborhood.”

At the bill's public hearing, several neighbors said the hotel was too large and would loom over the Millwood Park subdivision. Multiple residents said a three-story hotel would not be intrusive.

Before casting his nay vote, Councilman John Rush said the five-story hotel would likely decrease home values in the immediate area.

“I don't find the developer at fault here, but that doesn't change the charge to council. The perception is that the hotel would depreciate house values,” Rush said.

Councilwoman Jan Fisk and Mayor Bob Stephens also voted against the measure.

Those in favor of the zoning change – council members Tom Bieker, Doug Burlison, Jerry Compton and Jeff Seifried – said they believed council should be promoting economic development and not standing in the way of such projects.

“We say the city is open for business … but we continue to find reason after reason not to promote economic development,” Seifried said.

Burlison said the hotel would create jobs, and Compton said the project's proximity to the $116 million Mercy Orthopedic Hospital and Highway 65 make it consistent with the overall area.

“Either we support economic development or we don't,” Bieker said.

Councilman Scott Bailes withdrew from the public hearing at the July 30 meeting, citing a professional association with the nearby Millwood Golf & Racquet Club. Because the measure did not receive five votes, the ordinance did not pass. Both city staff and Planning and Zoning Commissioners had recommended approval.

Steinert said this morning he was disappointed that the ordinance failed, and he’s now considering other sites. Steinert said one council member, whom he declined to name, had previously stated support but voted against the project, and Steinert said he was upset that Bailes – who sponsored the measure – withdrew from its consideration.

Similar to the property on East Republic Road, Steinert said his purchase of the land on Farmers Park Road was contingent upon council approving the zoning modifications. He said he wasn’t giving up on the hotel plans, but he would seek a property that already is zoned for a five-story hotel.

“I won’t go before council again. I’ll find something that is already zoned [properly], or I won’t do it,” Steinert said.