Task force proposes new system for multifamily zoning

At a Tuesday luncheon, Springfield City Council members heard a presentation from Springfield planners Ann Razer and Bob Hosmer on behalf of the Multi-Family Development Task Force.

The 15-member task force was formed last August to consider changes to the city’s multifamily zoning regulations because council members were concerned that too many high-density developments were being approved. Council last September approved a 120-day administrative delay on multifamily rezoning and renewed the delay in December and again in April.

In its 27-page report, the task force recommends a new point-system matrix for rezoning requests. Developers would earn points for five criteria: neighborhood compatibility, land-use accessibility, connectivity analysis, road network evaluation and design guidelines. A higher point total would allow a development to have more housing units.

Bonus points also would be available if a development is near an activity center, provides a bus shelter and turnout, attains Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification or contains affordable housing.

City staff will consider changes to the proposal before sending it to council, which hopes to have a plan in place before the current administrative zoning delay ends in August.

See SBJ’s July 23 issue for more Springfield City Council news.[[In-content Ad]]