Springfield council shows interest in annexing land south of Mercy orthopedic hospital

Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader
·1 min read

During the Dec. 12 Springfield City Council meeting, the council voted to declare their intent to annex 27 acres south of 6621 S. Innovation Ave.

The area is south of Mercy Orthopedic Hospital Springfield, southwest of the intersection of Evans Road and U.S. 65.

For now the hospital system has no specific plans to expand into the are, according to Sonya Kullmann, media relations and communications manager.

'We’re doing just what the Sisters of Mercy did in 1891 when they opened the first hospital in the area — we’re growing to meet the needs of our neighbors," Kullman said in an email. "There are no definitive plans for that parcel now, but the area continues to grow with more homes and businesses. As needs change, Mercy wants to be able to bring more services close to home for people in that area."

An image from Council Bill 2022-295 shows the area that Springfield City Council expressed interest in annexing at the Dec. 12 city council meeting.
An image from Council Bill 2022-295 shows the area that Springfield City Council expressed interest in annexing at the Dec. 12 city council meeting.

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According to the voluntary annexation application attached to the resolution, the land is listed as privately owned by Kenneth L. and Helen Stoddard. Greene County GIS also lists Michael and Sharon Stoddard as landowners. The area is currently zoned as County A-1, Agriculture District, and the owners are proposing it be zoned to GI, Government and Institutional Use.

Both the zoning change and annexation will be reviewed during a public hearing on Jan. 9, 2023.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield city council looks to annex land near US 65 and Evans Road