Springfield Business Journal_2021-03-01

SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 NEWS MARCH 1-7, 2021 GrowWithEDC.com PRINT | PROMO | FULFILLMENT Offering scrubs, print & promotional products, and so much more to help you grow your business. by Emily Cole · ecole@sbj.net Springfield City Council is finalizing an infrastructure reimbursement agreement for a planned youth sports complex on the northwest side. The agreement with developer SGF Sports LLC would commit the city to reimbursing up to $2.1 million for pub- lic infrastructure improvements at the site located just west of Deer Lake Golf Course. Council is set to vote on the agreement March 8. SGF Sports is registered to Tulsa, Okla- homa, developer Rob Phillips of Philcrest Properties, according to Oklahoma sec- retary of state records. Project architect Rob Haik, principal with H Design Group LLC, previously told council Phillips plans to invest $10 million-$12 million on the project. Phillips owns 120 acres next to Deer Lake, Haik said. At council’s Feb. 22 meeting, Spring- field Economic Development Director Sarah Kerner said the proposal asks the city to reimburse up to $2 million for the improvements and up to $100,000 for in- terest costs. The youth athletic complex was brought before council last year with a proposed budget between $15 million and $20 million. Council passed a resolution in November signaling intent to help the developer with funding public improve- ments, and staff was directed to submit a development agreement. The plan calls for 12 soccer fields, in- cluding one turf championship field, outdoor seating for 1,500 spectators and a 90,000-square-foot indoor complex. The indoor center would have two soccer fields and four basketball courts that can convert into eight volleyball courts. The developer must build all of those elements, as well as permanent lighting for the outdoor fields and a parking lot with at least 720 spaces, to receive the reimbursement funding, according to city documents. Reimbursable public infrastructure improvements include off-site road and sidewalk improvements, on- and off-site sanitary, water and gas main extensions, a regional retention basin and associated design and permitting fees. The proposal requires the city and developer to establish a community im- provement district for the area, including a site for future retail and hotel develop- ment. A 1-cent sales tax would be imposed to reimburse the city for its expenses. To meet obligations in the agreement, the developer must construct the pub- lic improvements, handle the annexa- tion and land use process for the site, cooperate in establishment of the CID and obtain written approval from the Springfield city manager before making any changes to the development plan, ac- cording to city documents. The project, including public infra- structure and the private development, must be completed by March 31, 2024, or the agreement would terminate. The reim- bursement would be paid after full com- pletion of both elements of the project. SGF Sports is planning a $10 million-$12 million development in northwest Springfield. SBJ FILE Council prepares infrastructure funding for sports complex Agreement to reimburse developer up to $2.1 million for public improvements in northwest Springfield See COUNCIL on page 17