Water issues surround proposed zoning at Cox and Republic

Springfield City Councilwoman Cindy Rushefsky said stormwater drainage issues near Cox and Republic roads need to be examined before a 5.6-acre vacant lot on the southeast corner of the intersection should receive a new zoning designation.

But both Councilman Jeff Seifried and a representative of the landowner disagreed with her assessment of the southwest Springfield property.

A public hearing was held at last night’s Springfield City Council meeting on a bill proposing a zoning change on the lot to a general retail district from a single-family residential district.

The applicant, John Calvin Presbyterian Church, which owns the lightly wooded lot, wants to sell the property and is seeking the best zoning designation to attract a buyer, according to Neil Stenger, the Murney Associates, Realtors commercial real estate broker who represented the church.
 
Rushefsky said the Price Cutter and strip center to the north, as well as a proposed development to the east, are exacerbating long-standing stormwater runoff problems to the south.

“I have been contacted by some residents in the area who are very concerned about the drainage issues there, and they are very unhappy with what happened with the previous projected development. Apparently, there is no water detention plan in that area, and they are concerned we are looking at the same issue here,” Rushefsky said, referring to a March-approved rezoning of 20 acres south of Kansas Expressway and Republic Road. That property is one of three in Springfield in the running for a proposed Veterans Affairs medical clinic.  

Springfield Planning and Development Director Ralph Rognstad said it is unclear how big of a water detention basin would need to be built by a future developer of the property. Stenger estimated the basin would likely take up around three-quarters of an acre, but any developer is only required to make a basin large enough so it doesn’t worsen area drainage concerns, according to Rognstad.

Stenger said council could review water runoff issues once a developer submits plans for the property.

“The point at which you address the issue of storm detention is when you know what the developer is going to do,” Stenger said before Council. “You don’t know if there is going to be 60 percent hard surface or 80 percent hard surface and that impacts the size of the detention basin you’d have.

“That’s not a question for tonight. Tonight, (it’s about) what’s an appropriate use for that 5 acres.”

Stenger said the church has owned the property since 1988, and it had intentions to build a church there eventually, but its leaders recently decided to sell instead. Because no one has expressed an interest in the property yet, Stenger said he and the owners have worked with city staff to determine what the best use for that corner could be. Both city staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission have recommended the zoning change.

Seifried said council has the ability to address stormwater detention requirements, but that is a separate matter.

“There are two separate issues. If we want to address stormwater management, that’s a citywide issue, and we’d need to review our policies,” Seifried said.  

The bill is scheduled for a second reading and vote at the Aug. 4 meeting.