FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The public is invited to review the working drafts of the Community Development Code Update Initiative and discuss them with City Planning & Development staff and consultants from Multistudio, 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Double Tree Hotel Glendalough Convention Center, 2431 N. Glenstone Ave.
To review the proposed updates and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), visit ForwardSGF.com/initiative3 and click Working Draft Articles.
“Following the Dec. 4 open house will be a working session with the Planning & Zoning Commission and the City Council the second week of December to get their direction on specific legislative topics we are still finalizing,” said Director Steve Childers.
Background
Following the November 2022 adoption of Forward SGF, the City of Springfield’s Comprehensive Plan, the City is updating a series of city codes that guide and regulate the use, design, and installation of public and private development improvements to meet the community-driven vision for the future of Springfield. This implementation phase of Forward SGF is planned for spring 2025.
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 last comprehensive update of the City’s development codes was in 1995, although various amendments have been made periodically.
This effort will focus on how to implement the key concepts of already established plans and policies in Forward SGF. It may look at a variety of regulatory strategies or may dive deeper into specific issues to verify and refine the community direction.
Forward SGF recognizes the following trends to consider when updating 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.
###
For more information, please contact Melissa Hart at 417-536-7648 or [email protected].
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
