Community Development Code Update Open House

The public is invited to learn how updates to the City’s development codes will help implement the vision of Springfield’s Comprehensive Plan, Forward SGF, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Springfield Art Museum.

Planning & Development staff and Multistudio consultants will be available at various stations at the open house to accept public input and answer questions.

Background
Following the November 2022 adoption of Forward SGF, the City of Springfield’s Comprehensive Plan, the City is updating a series of city codes that guide and regulate the use, design and installation of public and private development improvements to meet the community-driven vision for the future of Springfield. This implementation phase of Forward SGF is planned for completion in 2024.

Specifically, the code update will target Chapter 36 Land Development Code (zoning code and subdivision regulations). Updates to the regulations include Article II: Subdivision Regulations, Article III: Zoning Regulations and coordination with Article V: Building Code. Review and coordination with other city codes that regulate the design of streets, stormwater, and other infrastructure will also occur to ensure that all codes related to new development are consistent and compatible.

The last comprehensive update of the City’s development codes was in 1995, although various amendments have been made periodically.

This effort will focus on how to implement the key concepts of already established plans and policies in Forward SGF. It may look at a variety of regulatory strategies or may dive deeper into specific issues to verify and refine the community direction.

Forward SGF recognizes the following trends to consider when updating the City’s development codes:

• Increased emphasis on quality of place – a more attractive, pet-friendly and amenity-rich experience.
• Increased emphasis on creating complete neighborhoods with diverse housing close to amenities and services.
• Reduction in parking demand and expansion of delivery and pick-up services in the retail and restaurant sectors.
• The need to accommodate emerging consumer trends and preferences, such as expanded outdoor dining, drive-up and drive-thru services, parklets, food trucks and outdoor markets.
• A greater demand for environmentally conscious development.
• Greater emphasis on improving the retail and service experience.
• Increased emphasis on City corridors to be better integrated allowing more flexible permitting.
• Increased flexibility in permitted uses for expansion of home occupations
• Increased flexibility for commercial and business spaces, office-warehouses and logistical service providers.

Next engagement opportunity:
Forward SGF Speaker Series: Joe Minicozzi, AICP, presents
The Economics of Community Design Part 2
6-8 p.m., Feb. 29
Springfield Art Museum.

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For more information, please contact Cora Scott at 417-380-3352 or Randall Whitman at rwhitman@springfieldmo.gov or at 417-864-2027. To learn more about Forward SGF, visit forwardsgf.com.