MARCH 4-10, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 25 FROM THE COVER from it, but any additions would have to be remanded to P&Z for review. Subsequent reviews by P&Z and council would each include a new public hearing on the CUP. Councilmember Craig Hosmer expressed concern about the process, noting it seems to favor developers over residents. “It seems like we’re sort of erring on the side if it’s beneficial to the developer or to development, we can be done with it,” he said. “If it’s not, if we make any type of changes, it has to go back to Planning & Zoning.” Hosmer said he thought the bill was intended to allow technical changes that do not substantially change the CUP. City Manager Jason Gage said the measure does not address whether changes made by council are more or less restrictive, and changes could benefit any party with a stake in the project. Councilmember Brandon Jenson said he thought the goal was to streamline processes while allowing maximum opportunity for conversation around changes, but added that is not the effect of the legislation in its current form. “We may choose to remand something back to P&Z for their additional consideration, but it doesn’t necessarily require the input of those experts that we’ve appointed to lend their time and credibility to these projects,” he said. He added that a modification or deletion of a condition may be remanded to P&Z for further consideration, but it does not have to be. “That concern still stands, that a modification or a deletion still can have substantial impact to any interested parties, and yet we’re not required to send that back,” Jenson said. He said CUPs are less common than other zoning measures, citing 10-15 requests coming before council in any given year, and the change being discussed would have benefited only one CUP application in the last couple of years. “Is it worth making this change to our system, weakening the advisory power of our Planning & Zoning Commission to improve the process for 5% of folks pursuing a CUP in our city?” he said. Other action items • Council approved several rezonings: nearly half an acre at 3961 S. Campbell Ave. to highway commercial from general retail for applicant Conspo LLC for a car rental business; 1 acre at 701 W. Wall St. to city center as requested by the city of Springfield from heavy manufacturing for the relocation of the Hotel of Terror haunted attraction, which remains under negotiation; and 0.4 acres at 1137-41 E. Delmar St. to planned development from residential single family for MSU Housing LLC and Faucett & Bates LLC for the renovation of Bambino’s restaurant. Council also OK’d vacating a portion of public right of way in the 1000 block of South Florence Avenue (417) 886-1330 3271 E. Battlefield Rd. www.regent.bank Beyond Banking: Building Success Together Where personal connections forge financial futures. We hear it all the time...Regent is truly a relationship-driven bank. We believe in forging deep connections with our clients, offering them personalized financial solutions and unwavering support. This approach transforms us from a service provider into a trusted partner in our clients’ success. It's our belief that in banking, a personal touch and genuine trust are not just valuable, but vital. Craig Hosmer: Conditional-use permit process change would benefit developers more than residents. for Bambino’s parking. • A vote was postponed on a $6.5 million allocation of carryover funds from fiscal 2023. The allocation would include $1.4 million for breathing apparatus for the Fire Department, $4.5 million for Historic City Hall renovations, $188,000 for Cooper Park and Killian Sports Complex improvements, $200,000 for Public Works for Americans with Disabilities Act assessment and $100,000 for crisis cold weather shelter funding. The sticking point for some council members is a $182,000 allocation for improvements to the South Creek Greenway Trail, a portion of which is outside of city limits. Council will vote on a substitute bill on March 11. • An appropriation of $1.1 million was OK’d for Council of Churches of the Ozarks Inc. to put toward a congregate shelter. The money comes from American Rescue Plan Act funds. • At the request of property owner Center Court LLC, council postponed until April 22 its consideration of rezoning 39 acres at 2730 E. Farm Road 188 to residential single family from planned development. The owner intends to sell the property to an unnamed church. • Eleven people participated in the public comment portion of the meeting. A majority of them represented tenants’ rights organization Springfield Tenants Unite, which is asking council for landlord licensing and rental property inspections in the city. •
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