Street change would affect Skateport land

City Council voted March 6 to continue an administrative delay in the area of the James River Freeway-Glenstone Avenue intersection.

The administrative delay had already been in place for 120 days, but this ordinance extends the delay by another 120 days for two parcels of land in the area, and for 365 days for three other parcels.

The delay affects one business in the area, Skateport, and the street realignment now proposed could cause hardship for the business, its representative said.

Council enacted the first administrative delay on processing development applications Nov. 8, 1999, to study traffic patterns in the area and try to develop a solution to some of the area's traffic woes.

The first ordinance has expired, and the new one addresses specific properties within the area of the original administrative delay, which was bordered by Primrose on the north, Luster on the east, Republic Road on the south, and Fremont Avenue on the west.

The two properties under the 120-day administrative delay are bordered by Glenstone Avenue and Luster. The three parcels subject to the 365-day delay are farther south, near the Glenstone-Republic interchange.

The 120-day delay gives city staff an opportunity to define alternate routing for the streets in the Glenstone-Luster area.

Though a final plan has not been drawn, Fred May, director of Planning and Development, said the plan may involve relocating Luster and reworking the Republic interchange with Independence.

One proposal affects Skateport, which is one of the two properties under the 120-day administrative delay.

May said the current proposal would cause the moved city street to cut through the Skateport property, separating the building from its parking lot.

Neil Stenger represented the owners of Skateport, a 23-year-old Springfield business, at the City Council meeting.

"We ask that you be open to other planning alternatives," Stenger said.

"The present design would make their building substandard and make it difficult for them to continue to operate their business," he added.

Skateport is owned by Skateport Inc., the principal operators of which are Ted and Betty Hall, Stenger said.

At the council meeting, Stenger suggested the city look at purchasing the Skateport property rather than realigning Luster to cut through the property.

City Manager Tom Finnie said the city had expressed an interest in acquiring the property and was talking with the property owners about a number of alternatives.

The plan for the property will be complete in 120 days or less, May said.

Skateport is the only operating business on the properties under administrative delay.

One of the tracts in the 365-day delay area has a home on it, May said, but no businesses.

The property in the 365-day delay area is a much more complicated area, May said, and it will require a complex design to realign the streets and make traffic flow more easily.

The delay on development will allow the city staff time to map the best realignment.

The city will have to work with the state, which has jurisdiction over the James River Freeway intersections, to coordinate a realignment, May said.

"We've already had discussions with the state," May said.

"Staff has taken the idea that it's our responsibility to identify the problem and show solutions, and offer a cooperative approach to getting something worked out in the area," he added.

May said he hopes these administrative delays on development will be the last.

"We don't want to be asking for any more time. We don't want to have this question still up in the air months from now," May said.

He added that the city will continue discussions with Skateport about a solution to its problem.

Stenger said allowing a city street to separate the building from its parking lot could have a profound affect on the business.

"The present design makes the skating rink inaccessible and would make it almost impossible for them to continue their business," Stenger said.

Seven council members voted yes on the resolution; Mayor Lee Gannaway abstained.