No. 9: Galloway Village rezoning heads to August ballot

After a nearly two-year debate, Springfield City Council voted 8-1 on Dec. 14 to open up a contested development in Galloway Village to a public vote. The fate of the development will be decided on the August 2021 ballot after neighbors brought forward a petition to overturn council’s prior decision to rezone the land.

Developer Mitch Jenkins of Elevation Development Co. is seeking to rezone roughly 4 acres at 3535 S. Lone Pine Ave. in order to bring up to 12,000 square feet of retail, office, restaurant space and two multifamily buildings to the neighborhood with a maximum of 25 housing units per acre.

For the past few years, area residents have criticized the proposal, citing traffic concerns, stormwater issues and the size and aesthetics of the development. Jenkins’s plan includes a parcel that was once the Sequoita Store/Treadway’s General Store & Gas Station, built in 1929.

Those in favor of the project say it will bring additional economic development to the area. Project supporters have said Jenkins has made revisions and concessions to the project multiple times to address opponents’ concerns.

At its Sept. 21 meeting, council voted 7-1 to rezone the land for the project, called Treadway. At the same meeting, council heard from 13 speakers, five in opposition of the amendment and development.

Earlier that month, Jenkins amended the proposal to meet neighborhood development guidelines. He decreased the height limit to 56 feet from 60 feet for buildings that are more than 60 feet from the street. He also removed an underground parking garage, which reduces grading and still exceeds the required parking for the development, according to city staff.

On Oct. 9, the city clerk’s office received a referendum petition with 1,718 signatures asking council to repeal the rezoning approval.

At the Dec. 14 meeting, council members voted 7-2 not to repeal it, with councilpersons Mike Schilling and Craig Hosmer the lone votes in favor. The decision not to repeal led council to let the public vote on the matter at the Aug. 3, 2021, election. Schilling was the only one to vote against a public vote.