Springfield Planning Commission closes floodplain code hearing to allow more analysis after hospital and health-system testimony

The Springfield Planning Commission closed the public hearing on proposed floodplain code amendments to give staff time to complete analysis and respond to public comment, commissioners announced during the meeting.

Staff said the record and technical findings for the legislative proposal are not yet complete, citing a required buildable-lands analysis of roughly 50 to 70 parcels and ongoing federal litigation and regulatory developments that could affect the city’s options. "We are asking to close the public hearing and reopen the hearing once we've completed our analysis," said Haley (planning staff), who presented the item and described the outstanding work.

The action follows public testimony from local hospital and health-system representatives who warned that the proposed changes could sharply reduce the amount of developable land on and around major medical campuses. Alicia Beamer, chief administrative officer for Sacred Heart Riverbend, said Riverbend is “out of space” and asked the commission to preserve room for future expansion. Grady Layman, director of planning, design and construction for…