The Greene County Commission has given the green light to rezone 14.3 acres of land for the controversial Auburn Meadows subdivision, located west of the Springfield-Branson National Airport. This decision, made during the commission’s monthly court session, comes despite vocal opposition from local residents and a recommendation of denial from the Greene County Planning Board.
Rezoning Details and Developer’s Plans
Derek Lee, a member of the Springfield City Council, requested the rezoning through Willard80, LLC. The change from R-1 suburban residence district to UR-1 urban residence district will allow for the construction of single-family homes on lots as small as 6,000 square feet. However, Lee assured commissioners that most lots will range between 9,000 and 10,000 square feet, accommodating 35 to 41 homes on the rezoned property.
The rezoning is part of a larger 93-acre project known as Auburn Meadows, which will eventually include hundreds of homes. Phase 1 is already under construction, and the newly rezoned area is designated as Phase 2. Lee plans to develop the remaining acreage with 10,000-square-foot lots, negating the need for further rezoning.
Community Concerns and Infrastructure Issues
Local residents have expressed concerns about the increased density and potential precedent for future zoning changes. Martin Addie, a neighbor, suggested that reducing the number of homes to 30 with larger lot sizes could alleviate these concerns. Other residents worry about the impact on local infrastructure, including traffic congestion, water pressure, and sewer capacity.
Jacquelyn Gray, another neighbor, voiced fears that the subdivision might consist primarily of rental properties, a trend she has observed in other rural areas. She seeks assurance that the homes will be available for purchase.
Addressing Environmental and Infrastructure Challenges
In response to concerns about flooding and environmental impact, Lee stated that water quality measures would be implemented, benefiting both the subdivision and existing homes. Greene County’s director of resource management, Kevin Barnes, clarified that previous concerns about sinkholes on the property were based on outdated maps and would not affect the development.
Trevor Hoffman, Willard’s director of public works, confirmed that the sewer system connecting to the proposed subdivision has sufficient capacity, and the city remains well below its contractual wastewater limit with Springfield.
Despite the challenges, the Greene County Commission’s decision marks a significant step forward for the Auburn Meadows project, balancing development needs with community concerns.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
