25-03-2025
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.'
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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.
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