The Springfield City Council on Monday, July 13, voted 8-0 to repeal the rezoning ordinance for a controversial apartment complex, allowing for a revised proposal with fewer units and floors.
Background
The original proposal, which included a 182-unit apartment complex, was met with opposition from residents of the adjacent High Meadow East subdivision. They submitted a referendum petition, which was deemed sufficient with 1,928 signatures, exceeding the required 1,499 signatures.
In response to the petition, the developer, Bibi Oaks, LLC, unveiled a new plan for the property, dubbed 33 Maryland, which features approximately 160 residential units and conforms to the previous planned development.
The revised plan includes amenities such as a resort-style pool, clubhouse, fitness center, pickleball courts, dog park, and gathering spaces. The project will be a two-story structure, reducing the total number of units from the original proposal.
Neighbor Concerns
Despite the revisions, some residents retain concerns about the project, citing density, traffic, and building height. James Head, a High Meadow East resident, stated that the concerns haven’t changed with the new proposal, emphasizing the need for an independent traffic study and assessment of emergency corridor risk.
Abbigale Haralson, another resident, expressed severe disappointment in the council members who supported the rezoning, arguing that the previous proposal failed to comply with the city’s Forward SGF comprehensive plan.
Developer’s Response
Nathan Reynolds, of Bibi Oaks, LLC, acknowledged the uncertainty posed by the referendum petition process, stating that every dollar spent redesigning and re-engineering is a dollar that cannot be spent on construction, housing, infrastructure, amenities, safety, and long-term community value.
Reynolds expressed confidence in the merits of the revised proposal, emphasizing the need for teamwork to bring the project to fruition.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
