Will Springfield's City Council approve National and Sunshine rezoning?

Following the 7-1 rejection of a controversial University Heights development by Planning and Zoning commissioners, Springfield's newly-seated City Council will take up the issue next month. Coming off a campaign centered on development issues, some see what council decides to do as a test of election promises of unity.

Dubbed "The Heights," the proposed commercial development would be located on the northwest corner of Sunshine Street and National Avenue. It has been contentious from its inception and the first public hearing just days after the municipal election proved much the same. Neighborhood advocates packed City Hall to oppose the measure, while city staff and the developer himself supported it. The Planning and Zoning Commission overwhelmingly rejected the proposed rezoning.

Rather than making the ultimate decision, the commission denial is merely a recommendation to City Council, which will hold a public hearing on the case at their May 22 meeting.

More: Planning and Zoning rejects University Heights development, rezoning still headed to council

Such a vote early in their tenure could provide insight into how new councilmembers — several of whom were opposed by neighborhood advocates in the campaign — will approach similar controversies in the future.

Speaking to the News-Leader, Mayor Ken McClure said council would "follow process" in University Heights as he said they did in the rezoning of the Galloway Village neighborhood — a council decision which ultimately was taken to a public vote and overturned by an overwhelmingly margin last year.

"I believe in process. The process works. The process worked in Galloway. From the Zoning Commission to City Council to the referendum …" McClure said. "We have an issue coming up at Sunshine and National. We have yet to see anything before council. We will be dealing with everything in a balanced approach. We'll be looking toward the comprehensive plan and the guidance that it gives us. I am a big believer in process."

According to Melanie Bach, the Galloway neighborhood association president who ran against McClure in the April election, the University Heights rezoning will be a "telling case" that shows whether those elected will reconcile with neighborhood groups.

"That vote is going to let everybody know if they meant it when they said reconciliation was a priority on the campaign trail," Bach told the News-Leader. "They would have to do something at least that protects University Heights from their historic neighborhood getting devastated. If they rubber stamp it, it says that they're going to go on with business as usual."

Bach said neighborhoods should be prepared to "mobilize and fight back" through the use of another referendum petition if necessary. Many University Heights residents have threatened to take the rezoning to a vote of the general public if it is ultimately approved by City Council.

"I don't want to sound confrontational. I hope that they work harder at compromise because of this election. Really," Bach said. "This has got to stop, you know, this constant fight between neighborhoods and developers. And I don't think it's really gonna stop until our city tells developers that they need them to go to places that need to be developed and stay out of places that don't."

More: What does voters’ decision on Galloway neighborhood mean for future of Springfield development?

Newly-elected Councilwoman Callie Carroll told the News-Leader that she will handle this and any other case "the same way that I hopefully will handle things throughout the entire time I'm on City Council."

"It's important that I listen to all stakeholders, and I take in account all angles of every situation, learn, ask questions, and then make the decision that I think is best for our entire city," she said.

Brandon Jenson, also recently elected, said he did not want to comment on the case specifically but noted he has followed closely recent Planning and Zoning meetings in his preparation to join council later this month.

Both Councilmen Craig Hosmer and Abe McGull told the News-Leader that council needs to "listen to all the facts, listen to all sides, and do what's in the best interest of the city." But Hosmer also added council should heed the Planning and Zoning decision.

"And so I hope that council will look at the rejection of 7 to 1. We've looked at other recommended proposals that were not supported by Planning and Zoning. I think we do that with some risk because I think that's the body that we put in charge of looking at that," Hosmer said.

One recent example involved a proposed 7 Brew Coffee at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Sunshine Street. The proposal was rejected three times before City Council approved it with some revisions. Hosmer voted against the 7 Brew at the time.

Of all the councilmembers, Hosmer has come closest to announcing he would vote against the Sunshine and National rezoning. He previously put forward a moratorium on all development on that corridor but that proposal was referred to a council committee before the election.

"Hopefully, that committee will get reconstituted, and the moratorium will at least have a hearing and vote up or down in the committee," Hosmer said.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Will Springfield City Council approve National and Sunshine rezoning?