JASON NEVEL
Jun 19, 2012
Springfield aldermen approved a zoning change Tuesday needed for the
Schnucks grocery chain to raze
Griffin Woods and convert the area into a commercial development. The mostly wooded, 20-acre property, which is being sold by the Springfield Catholic Diocese, is next to the old Griffin High School, the new Sacred Heart-Griffin athletic field and the headquarters of SPARC. The area had been zoned for residential use.
Aldermen approved the zoning change Tuesday, 8-2, with Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin and Ward 5 Ald. Sam Cahnman casting the two “no” votes. McMenamin said he wished the grocery company had held a neighborhood meeting beforehand to address the concerns of people who live nearby. He also said he was worried about increased traffic and the number of vacant buildings in the area.
Jason Daley, who grew up near Griffin Woods, said the city is making a mistake in allowing removal of trees that are more than 300 years old. “You do not find 350-year-old trees every day,” said Daley, who now lives near Madison, Wis. “This says the city is only thinking about tax dollars.”
Ward 8 Ald. Kris Theilen said he understands people’s attachment to the woods, but they were never set aside to be a nature preserve. The action was only one of several steps still needed for the project to move forward, but the action indicated aldermen probably won’t stand in the way.
The Springfield Park District still has an option to purchase the property because Griffin Woods once was identified as a possible location for a city park. However, developers have said the park district is likely to waive its purchase rights in order to keep the Schnucks project moving forward. A new Schnucks is also planned for Dirksen Parkway and Singer Avenue.
Poll
Would you like to see at least some of the so-called “Griffin Woods” at Bruns Lane and Washington Street preserved in Schnucks plans to build a grocery store there?
- I’d like to see all of it preserved and the grocery store go somewhere else. 43%
- I’d like to see at least a little of it saved next to the new store. 25%
- No. Bulldoze it. Build me a big grocery store. 30%
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Total votes: 829
Read the full article at…sj-r.com
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 