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Residents tell council Springfield faces clustering of liquor, cannabis outlets and group homes
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the council to limit the number of liquor and cannabis outlets and to address a perceived concentration of group homes in McKnight and surrounding neighborhoods.
Several residents used public comment at the Sept. 15 council meeting to raise concerns about an increase in liquor stores, cannabis retailers and conversions of large houses into group homes in Springfield neighborhoods.
Steven Howard, who identified himself from the McKnight neighborhood, said Springfield "seems to be the place where a lot of cannabis and liquor stores are opening up" and cited a denied liquor license for an ice-cream parlor that had proposed to sell sealed spiked drinks for takeout. He said a liquor store on Saint James opened despite community opposition and that the neighborhood now has "the most amount of group homes in the entire state," asserting that larger houses are being converted into group homes and that residents view the trend as a local problem.
Why it matters: The commenters framed the issue as a neighborhood concentration concern: residents said they feel the density of licensable businesses and group homes affects quality of life and asked the council to consider limits. Councilors did not take formal action on the public comments at the meeting; the remarks were recorded for the council's consideration.
Ending: Public testimony concluded and the council proceeded to its regular agenda; no ordinance or vote followed directly from these comments.
