Mary Hansen
The State Journal-Register
Representatives from five neighborhood groups sparred with developers and builders at Tuesday’s Springfield City Council meeting over a proposal requiring new apartment complexes and storage-unit construction to go through an additional review process, including getting sign-off from the council.
Aldermen defeated the proposal from Mayor Jim Langfelder that neighborhood associations supported to extend the review process to multi-family residential and storage-unit projects. As the rules stand now, projects that are over 12 acres are required to go through additional scrutiny from a panel of city and county staff experts and get council approval.
In May, the council relaxed rules for that large-scale development process, upping the number of acres for a project from five to 12.
Some criticized the move for eliminating the opportunity for residents to have more of a say in what develops in their neighborhoods, while proponents said it would eliminate unnecessary steps and stimulate new commercial and residential growth in the city.
Representatives from Lincoln Park, Harvard Park, Iles Park, Historic West Side and the Inner City Older Neighborhoods coalition spoke in favor of ensuring a public process for apartment complexes and storage units.
With no discussion from aldermen, the council voted 8-1 to defeat the measure. Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin cast the lone “yes” vote.
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Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 