Highland site plan review continued after applicant withdraws major variance request

The Springfield Planning Commission on March 18 continued a quasi-judicial public hearing on the Highland site plan review to a special meeting at 6 p.m. on April 15, 2025, after the applicant withdrew a major variance request. The motion to continue the hearing passed on a 5-0 roll call.

Mark Rust, current planning manager, read a staff update stating that the applicant formally withdrew the major variance and submitted modified site-plan materials. Rust said the variance had originally sought an exception to a development standard that requires vehicle maneuvering areas to be paved. He told the commission that, based on initial staff review, the major variance could not meet approval criteria and therefore the applicant withdrew that portion of the application.

Rust read that the site-plan review remains elevated to a Type 3 process and will remain before the Planning Commission. Staff said the applicant agreed to restart the 120-day review timeline from the date the modified materials were submitted and that the modified site plan and an amended staff report will be available at least seven days before the April 15 hearing for public review.

There was no public testimony at the continued hearing. After staff’s statement, a commissioner moved to continue the hearing to April 15 at 6 p.m.; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote with Thompson, Schmunk, Weber, Greenwell and Driggs voting aye (motion passed 5-0).

Staff advised that the April 15 hearing will include presentation of the applicant’s modified materials and an updated staff report for the Planning Commission’s consideration. Interested members of the public will be able to review the updated materials once posted seven days before the continued hearing.