Answer Man: A tract of land on the south side of West Battlefield between Scenic and Golden recently was marked as “sold” on the for-sale sign. That plot has been for sale for years, possibly before I even moved to this area in 2006. I was curious what is going to be built there. — Suzanne Walker, of Springfield
I visited the site Wednesday and saw not only the “sold” sign you mention but a sign for two hearings — one before the planning and zoning commission and one before the City Council. These meetings have come and gone.
The fact the city has been a little slow to take down its sign proved a benefit to me.
Because that's how I got your answer, Suzanne. A fence company will locate here.
The property is a wooded 6.36 acres across Battlefield from the Southwestern Power Administration.
The sale involved a zoning change — from general retail district to industrial/commercial district.
Three days after the zoning change was OK'd, the sale was recorded by the assessor's office.
The non-contested zoning change was discussed briefly at the July 11 council meeting at a public hearing and was approved unanimously two weeks later at the July 25 council meetings. These meetings are videotaped and available on the city's website. Go to the “government” tab and click “view City Council meetings.”
From that July 25 meeting I learned:
- The intent is to allow a new office and operations for a fence company.
- It's consistent with the city's comprehensive plan.
- Surrounding properties are zoned industrial to the north, east and south.
- Planning and Zoning Commission voted 8-0 to recommend approval.
The seller was the Schell Development Company. The buyer was Robinson Investments LLC, which was formed in 2018 and based in Springfield.
I think you're right, Suzanne, in that the property has been vacant for years.
Public records show the city issued a demolition permit for the site in 2004.
Something had to have been demolished. A dirt path leads into the property, and there is a clearing among the trees.
I believe there were once homes here. I ran the address through the archives of the Springfield News-Leader and came across an ad from March 1985.
“6 ACRES — 3006 W. Battlefield, 2 homes, zoned M-2. Price for quick sale! $129,000.”
This is Answer Man Column No. 19.
