MARCH 4-10, 2024 24 · SBJ.NET FROM THE COVER A vote on the CID is scheduled for March 11. Tom Walker of Sunshine West Partners said the public has been supportive of the development. “The response has been unbelievable for this project,” he said. “I’ve developed retail for decades, and we have people lined up to take space in this project. It’s that good.” Springfield Economic Vitality Director Amanda Ohlensehlen said the shopping center would be anchored by a 150,000-squarefoot Target, which will have about 30,000 square feet more retail space than the existing Springfield store at 1825 E. Primrose St. The Sunshine Towne Center development also will include a 50,000-square-foot retail shopping center and three outparcel lots. Plans for the shopping center cover 23 acres. Walker said developing the Target store hinged on having access off West Bypass, as the Missouri Department of Transportation would not allow westbound access across the median on Sunshine Street. He noted most people using the store would travel from the east. Walker said MoDOT granted an entrance from the state limited-access highway via a road that is planned to run along the south side of the north-facing Target store. The access point comes at a cost of $135,000, he said. Streets in the development would be built to city specifications with heavy-duty asphalt, Walker said, but there will never be a requirement for the city to maintain or replace the streets; rather, an operation and easement agreement will be set up between Springfield West Partners and Target regarding the responsibility for maintaining and improving the streets. The CID as proposed would have a life of 20 years. The proposed five-member CID board of directors, which must be OK’d by the mayor and council, is Walker, Greg Smith, Jameson Clark, John Fugitt and Sean McQueary. To reimburse the city for costs associated with establishing the CID, the city would receive 1.5% of district sales and use tax revenues on a quarterly basis. Conditional use permit procedure Council members are continuing to hammer away at a policy shift that would allow changes to conditional use permits without review by the Planning & Zoning Commission in an effort to expedite the development process. Prior to the bill’s introduction to council, sponsored by Councilmember Callie Carroll, on Jan 8, P&Z voted against modifying the conditional use permit process. A substitute bill introduced at the Feb. 26 council meeting aimed to address concerns of P&Z following conversations with Chair Natalie Broekhoven, according to Mayor Ken McClure. Council voted to again postpone the vote, this time until March 25 to allow for further review by the city’s legal department. The proposed change to the city’s land development code would allow council to make small changes to conditional use permits without remanding measures to P&Z. Council receives recommendations for or against zoning measures, including conditional use permits, from P&Z and considers the body’s perspective before voting them up or down. City code currently allows council only to vote for or against a CUP, and any changes – including corrections of typos and small errors – must be remanded to P&Z for further review, reportedly causing delays in development projects; a proposed CUP must be added to the agenda of a twice-monthly meeting of P&Z and then go through council’s two-meeting legislative approval process, potentially delaying approval of a development by more than six weeks. The latest iteration of the code change would allow council either to approve a CUP as presented or to remove conditions City: Development will include 50,000-square-foot shopping center Continued from page 1 GREAT PLACES TO WORK SHOWCASE YOUR WORKPLACE EXCELLENCE It’s more important than EVER to differentiate your workplace from others. Email advertising@sbj.net to request details and reserve your space. Deadline: 3/22/24. Publish Date: 4/22/24. Brandon Jenson: P&Z Commission members lend expertise and credibility to projects. $4M Planned improvements to roads around pending Target store CITY BEAT From the Feb. 26 City Council Meeting: Full City Council coverage is at SBJ.net/citybeat • Community improvement district would pave way for second Target store. • Rezoning measures include car rental business, Hotel of Terror and Bambino’s projects. • Use of carryover funds is paused as council weighs trail project outside city limits. • Council of Churches congregant shelter receives $1.1 million. • Tenant advocates push for landlord licensing and rental inspections.
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