Springfield city government staff got the go-ahead from the Planning and Zoning Commission to draft changes to the city code to regulate the location and placement of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The city staffers will work with outside consultants and look at what other cities are doing to set standards for EV charging ports, which Springfield Planning Manager Bob Hosmer said he sees “pretty frequently” on building permits.
The City of Springfield does not have any regulations pertaining to electric vehicle charging stations. Once they are drawn up, city staff will present the proposed changes to the planning commission and the City Council, and a public hearing on the drafted amendments will be held.
“It's something that's coming and that I think it would be a forward thinking of the Commission and of the city to do at this point,” Commissioner Betty Ridge said.
Hosmer said a lot of the EV charging stations that they’re seeing in his office are in commercial spaces and parking lots, which is a “little bit more complicated” than if a gas station wanted to install one.
The city will consider landscaping, setback and whether a charging station in a certain location should be designated as an “accessory,” rather than a “primary” use for the business or property.
“There’s all sorts of things of how many charging stations you can have on the location,” Hosmer said. “So there’s various questions — we’re going to start looking at the design of them, where’s the placement, how we look at them, whether they’re in residential areas, multifamily areas, commercial or standalone.”
Commissioners provide input
In a unanimous 8-0 approval of initiating the changes to the Springfield zoning ordinance, commissioners expressed support for developing regulations. They also suggested other aspects of EV charging stations that should be taken into consideration.
Commissioner Bruce Colony said that, in many instances, EV charging ports should be considered an “accessory” use, because they take away from the number of parking spaces commercial buildings are required to have.
“Another city that I frequent to the north, these things are already everywhere,” Colony said. “You can go into the gas station and off over to the side, there are places at the gas station. You go to the supermarket, there are pay lots out in the Walmart or the Shop ‘n Save or HyVee parking lot where you can go and so I agree that this is an accessory use and it is taking up what was otherwise parking lot dedicated to the size of the building, and they’re likely going to be used for an extended period of time.”
Additionally, Colony asked whether EV charging stations should receive the same protection as a wheelchair-accessible parking space.
“If I go park my gas guzzling SUV in a spot that was intended for somebody with a (disability), do I get a ticket?” Colony asked.
Commissioner Chris Lebeck, who drives an electric vehicle, encouraged city staff to consider design standards and ensure that charging stations are compatible with as many makes and models of electric vehicles as possible.
“I think the municipality can do a lot to kind of define that this is going to be a level-three charger, it's going to look this way that way it kind of conforms with our community,” Lebeck said.
