Latest news with #ForwardSGF
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Springfield residents give feedback on Sunshine Street corridor study
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — On Tuesday, June 3, residents were invited to voice their opinions on the Sunshine Street Corridor Study, between Kansas Expressway and Glenstone Avenue. The purpose of this plan is to analyze existing conditions and work with the public to help set the vision of the street and the surrounding neighborhoods. There are five for the study: Engagement, Safety, Revitalization, Place, and Balance Community Needs. The City of Springfield hopes that the feedback will help create a Sunshine Street that will: Balances mobility & local needs Prioritizes safety for everyone traveling on streets and sidewalks in the study area Guides improvements Supports neighborhood goals and vision defined in Forward SGF A presentation was given to attendees, providing more insight into the project and how their feedback will play a part in it. Afterwards, people could move freely around to board stations that provided more information on Sunshine, as well as sticky notes where they could pin their feedback. Why Midnight Rodeo is suddenly closing its longtime location 'This is kind of a unique approach the city is taking with multiple departments, with multiple disciplines coming together to look at not just the traffic and transportation corridor, but also looking at quality of life, quality of place and what it's really like to live in and around the area as well,' says Cora Scott, spokesperson for the City of Springfield. According to Scott, one of the main reasons for the study is to improve safety. 'It's becoming more heavily trafficked in. Also we're having more crashes, particularly at access areas as people in and out of driveways and such along that corridor,' Scott said. 'So that's the number one reason to look at what could be some infrastructure improvements to help with that. Not necessarily to constantly speed up traffic, but just to make it safer for people, pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers along the route.' Ozarks First spoke to some Springfield residents attending the event who expressed their own opinions on the project. 'I'm hopeful that this is going to go the right way and I plan to be part of it to try to ensure that it is steered in the right way,' said Donell Dunbar about the project, 'I live in University Heights neighborhood, which is kind of known as a contested neighborhood. And I want this to go right because it's on our doorstep and we need it to go right for the city as well to preserve the history that we have and to provide a very welcoming place for visitors, residents, everyone who comes to our city.' Dunbar believes that older buildings should be torn down to make way for new ones. 'I would like to see the vacant businesses addressed. Let's tear them down and build something more useful. If they're not going to be used before we start tearing historical homes down, for instance.' Springfield schools raises 67,000 meals in Ozarks Food Harvest competition For Rick and Sally Keen, the biggest issue is traffic. 'There's too many cars going in and out on Sunshine Street, 'said Sally Keen. 'I think it'd be nice if they had alleys behind the building of some sort.' 'Something needs to be done for the traffic, the speeders. And that's a major problem, especially late at night shifts,' added Rick Keen. Scott states that there will be at least 'two to three more times to engage' with residents in the future, saying the next survey will include a design charrette, where the designers will sit at tables and the public can discuss further details on the project. A completed plan for the project is expected to be finished in early 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SGF city planners continue hosting workshops with center city registered neighborhoods
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — City planners are seeking input from residents as part of the implementation of the Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan related to housing. City of Springfield planners will host a series of workshops with registered center city neighborhood residents to brainstorm where select 'missing middle' housing options could fit in in their neighborhoods, according to a news release. This is part of the citywide remapping process, following the adoption of the Land Development Code by Springfield City Council earlier this year. The recently updated code will create new opportunities for gentle density and diverse missing middle housing types — such as duplexes, multi-unit homes and townhomes — through a newly established residential zoning district, R-MX1. 'Missing middle housing' refers to a range of residential building types that bridge the gap between single-family homes and large apartment buildings. According to the City's 2023 Housing Study and Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy and Forward SGF, 'missing middle' housing types should be integrated into Springfield's existing neighborhoods to increase housing diversity through moderate increases in density while maintaining neighborhood character to provide a wider, more equitable range of housing choices. 'We want to engage with neighborhoods that have the greatest potential for increased housing density – specifically those within the Center City Neighborhood place type,' said senior planner Hanna Knopf in the release. Two meetings have already taken place — one in Woodland Heights, and one in West Central Neighborhood Alliance. Center city neighborhoods are identified in the comprehensive plan as residential neighborhoods generally dating back to before WWII. These neighborhoods are typically made up of a gridded block pattern with alleys, tree-lined streets, and a well-connected sidewalk network. The Westside Neighborhood Betterment Association's meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., June 16, at Wilson's Creek Nursing & Rehab, 3403 W. Mt. Vernon. Heart of the Westside's meeting will be at 6 p.m., June 17, at Passion Assembly of God Church, 806 N. Forest Ave. Grant Beach's meeting will be 6:30 p.m., July 8, at The Fairbanks, 1126 N. Broadway. Doling Park's meeting will be 6:30 p.m., July 17 at Hillcrest Presbyterian Church, 818 E. Norton Road. Meetings are also planned for Tom Watkins, Weller and Midtown. 'Woodland Heights has empty lots that could potentially welcome some 'missing middle' housing,' said Becky Volz, Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association president and Neighborhood Advisory Council chair, in the release. 'We have a few properties that could work as a remodel for duplexes, as well,' Volz said. 'I'm hopeful these meetings with City staff will outline the process and intention for development. Neighbors are concerned about the possibility of developers coming in with no thoughtfulness of our historical roots and homes, but we can work and dream together for the betterment of Woodland Heights and all center city neighborhoods' While Robberson, Rountree and Phelps Grove also fall within the Center City Neighborhood placetype, Knopf said staff will attend those neighborhoods' meetings to explain the citywide remapping process. 'The residential properties within Robberson are currently zoned R-TH, Residential Townhouse, which will automatically translate to R-MX1 during the citywide remapping,' Knopf said. 'Rountree and Phelps Grove have updated neighborhood plans and have more recently discussed development within their neighborhoods and the neighborhood plans reflect those discussions. With these neighborhoods, staff will attend one of their neighborhood meetings and explain the overall citywide remapping process rather than focus on 'missing middle' housing.' There are 12 remaining registered neighborhoods in Springfield that fall outside of the Center City Neighborhood place type that are designated with a Traditional Neighborhood place type. They are: Bissett University Heights Fassnight Mark Twain Greater Parkcrest Oak Grove Brentwood Seminole Holland Meador Park Delaware Bradford Park Galloway Village In these neighborhoods, Knopf said staff will attend regularly scheduled neighborhood meetings to explain the citywide remapping process as it relates to the Land Development Code update. A mapping exercise will not be conducted in these neighborhoods, as they are generally made up of homogenous housing types that are separated from dissimilar uses by distinct zoning boundaries that present different opportunities than the Center City neighborhoods, she added in the release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Springfield City Council approves Citizens' Advisory Board nominees
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Springfield City Council has approved eight nominations for the inaugural Citizens' Advisory Board on Monday. The eight members, who were chosen from a total of 82 applicants, are: Proposed Chair Erin Danastasio (three-year term) Proposed Vice-Chair Rusty Worley (three-year term) Andy Peebles (three-year term) Clif Smart (two-year term) Becky Volz (two-year term) Leslie Forrester (two-year term) Lauren Shantz (one-year term) Christina Angle (one-year term) The board will be tasked with recommending projects to City Council that align with the Forward SGF plan and will be funded with the 1/2-cent portion of the renewed 3/4-cent sales tax, the City says. These projects will include community and neighborhood initiatives, capital improvements and park projects. Springfield City Council approved the creation of the Citizens' Advisory Board in January, with the council solidifying nominations for the board earlier in March. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Springfield City Council approves updated development code
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — City Council has adopted a new Community Land Development Code for Springfield at Monday's meeting after the updates were unanimously recommended by The Planning & Zoning Commission. The updated code passed 8-1, with Councilman Derek Lee being the sole opposing vote. The development code's last major update was in 1995. The City of Springfield says the new land development code updates focus on zoning code and subdivision regulations as part of the City's Forward SGF plan. 'Forward SGF was an immense community engagement process that involved significant input from neighborhoods, businesses, as well as historical, environmental, and cultural interests,' said Steve Childers, Planning and Development director. 'The vision set out by Forward SGF established a bold new direction for the City of Springfield, one that required an update to the City's zoning code.' Greene County sees surge in delinquent taxes after tags bill Some of the more notable changes to the code include, but are not limited to: Shifting administration of the Land Development Ordinance to the director of Planning and Development Establishing two tiers of rezoning – open, or straight rezoning and rezoning with a site plan Establishing two tiers of site plan modifications – minor (administrative), and major (P&Z). P&Z approves conditional use permits, with an appeal to the City Council Implementing street design types city-wide, based on context Flexibility in code-compliant public improvements and parking requirements Allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs, a.k.a. accessory apartments, secondary suites or 'granny flats') in all single-family districts, subject to design and operation conditions Enhancing neighborhood design standards by context Focus on frontages and streetscapes and basic building and site design standards Broadening and simplifying non-residential design by context Defined parameters for permitted modifications or reductions, with criteria Prioritizing street trees as infrastructure The full updated zoning codes can be found here. Childers says the city will focus on updating Springfield's official zoning map before the new code is implemented in Spring 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City council selects eight for citizens' advisory board
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Springfield's City Council has announced eight people it is recommending for the new Citizens' Advisory Board. The advisory board is charged with providing recommendations to the council on projects funded by the 1/2-cent portion of the new 3/4-cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2024. The City says projects are to be aligned with Forward SGF, the City's comprehensive plan, and will include capital improvements, community and neighborhood initiatives and park projects. The eight candidates recommended for the Citizens' Advisory Board were chosen from a pool of 82 applicants and are: Erin Danastasio, three-year term and proposed chair Rusty Worley, three-year term and proposed vice-chair Andy Peebles, three-year term Clif Smart, two-year term Becky Volz, two-year term Leslie Forrester, two-year term Lauren Shantz, one-year term Christina Angle, one-year term The City says Andy Lear, who was recommended as vice-chair, declined the appointment for personal reasons. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
