City Council adopts new Community Land Development Code

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City Council approved the updates to the Community Land Development Code, commonly referred to as the zoning code. The Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended the updates to the council in February. To view the updated codes, visit forwardsgf.com/initiative3. The vote was 8-1 with Councilman Derek Lee opposed.

The Community Land Development Code is the regulatory document that specifically explains the rules, processes and procedures for the use of land inside the city limits of Springfield. The last comprehensive update was in 1995, although various updates have been made periodically.

Specifically, the code updates target Chapter 36 Land Development Code (zoning code and subdivision regulations). Updates to the regulations include Article II: Subdivision Regulations, Article III: Zoning Regulations and coordination with Article V: Building Code. Review and coordination with other city codes that regulate the design of streets, stormwater, and other infrastructure will also occur to ensure that all codes related to new development are consistent and compatible. The updates serve as the implementation tool for Forward SGF, the City’s updated comprehensive plan that was formally adopted in fall 2022. 

The amendments to the code represent a shift in the overall way land use and development are regulated in Springfield. The key changes include but are not limited to:

• shifting administration of the Land Development Ordinance to the director of Planning and Development
• expanded eligibility for administrative subdivisions
• establishing two tiers of rezoning – open, or straight rezoning and rezoning with a site plan
• two tiers of site plan modifications – minor (administrative), major (P&Z). P&Z approves conditional use permits, with an appeal to City Council
• implementing street design types city-wide, based on context
• flexibility in code compliant public improvements
• generalizing and increasing flexibility of uses
• increased distinctions on scale and format and reliance on design and performance criteria
• consolidating certain districts
• 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
• focus on frontages and streetscapes and basic building and site design standards
• establishing three tiers of access plans
• providing flexibility in parking requirements
• defined parameters for permitted modifications or reductions, with criteria
• allowance for alternative data/rates, parking plans, or shared parking
• prioritizing street trees as infrastructure
• implementing strategic tree preservation.

“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. “Hundreds of residents and others interested in the future of Springfield participated in a variety of different engagement activities to provide a vision to be carried out by Springfield’s leadership. 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.”

Forward SGF identified the following trends to guide the update to the City’s development codes:

• Increased emphasis on quality of place – a more attractive and amenity-rich experience.
• Increased emphasis on creating complete neighborhoods with diverse housing in close proximity to amenities and services.
• Reduction and practical design solutions to meeting modern parking demands in the retail and service sectors.
• The need to accommodate emerging consumer trends and preferences, such as expanded outdoor dining, drive-up and drive-through services, parklets, food trucks and outdoor markets.
• A greater demand for environmentally conscious development with an emphasis on growing the city’s urban forest.
• Greater emphasis on improving the city streetscapes and the relationship between public and private places.
• Increased emphasis on integrating flexibility of permitted and conditional uses through increased design and performance standards.
• Streamlining and integrating procedures for zoning, platting, site plan and appeals.

Background

Work on updating the Community Development Code began in the spring of 2023, following the adoption of Forward SGF. Land development code consultant Multistudio completed the research and analysis phase of the code update process in the winter of 2023, which included reviewing and studying the City of Springfield’s existing codes, policies, and district standards, as well as conducting interviews. The analysis phase produced the Fiscal Impact Analysis, the Code Review Summaries, and the Development Pattern Analysis documents, all of which can be found online at forwardsgf.com/initiative3/ by scrolling to the bottom of the page.
 
The process of updating of the code has been an intense series of working sessions/discussions including, but not limited to, City staff, the Planning and Zoning Commission, City Council, consultants, design professionals, the Neighborhood Advisory Council, Growth Development Advisory Committee, builders, developers, as well as many other frequent users of the code. Additional information on the process is detailed in the explanation sheet accompanying the bill. Verbatim public comments on the code update can be viewed starting on page 255 of the bill’s accompanying exhibit B.

Childers said the next step in implementing the updated code is updating the City’s official zoning map. Input will continue to be taken from stakeholders, with additional text amendments brought forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council before the full implementation of the new code in spring 2026.  

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