Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Springfield council authorizes sale of Linda Lane parcels; residents warn of wetlands and traffic risks
Summary
The Springfield City Council voted 5-0 to authorize a purchase-and-sale agreement with Jasper Hills LLC for Linda Lane parcels, while residents urged the council to honor wetland protections and to address neighborhood traffic and secondary access before development proceeds.
Springfield — The City Council voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to execute a purchase-and-sale agreement for two Linda Lane tax lots with Jasper Hills LLC, while residents told the council they worried development would harm deed-restricted wetlands and worsen local traffic.
Mayor Van Gordon called the special session to order and the council read the item as "Linda Lane property offers for purchase and next steps." City surveyor Jeremy Shear told the council the city had received two bona fide offers for roughly 34 acres but would retain about 12 acres for a wetlands bank, meaning the sale would net about 22 acres to a buyer. "The 12 acres will be retained for wetland banking purposes," Shear said.
During public comment, resident Renee Ellis cited the Department of State Lands and a mitigation plan to argue that state law prefers avoiding wetland impacts and that deed restrictions prohibit altering the delineated wetlands. "No, a road can't be plowed through the wetlands," Ellis said, urging the council to ensure developers adhere to mitigation and permit restrictions. Another resident, Fierra Moore, described living at the far end of a subdivision with a single entrance and said adding new homes would worsen safety and traffic congestion.
Councilors emphasized that the evening's action concerned only the sale of the property and not land-use approvals for future development. "Tonight is just talking about selling this property," Councilor Rodley said, noting that any development would still have to go through the city's land-use process and public review.
Jeff Pascal, the city's community development director, said city staff and the proposers have discussed future improvements and that primary access for new development "most likely would not be able to take access through the existing Jasper Meadows." He said secondary access and emergency access would be required under the Transportation System Plan and that some access solutions depend on county facilities and other property owners. Pascal also said staff would keep the Linda Lane mailing list active and likely expand notification beyond the standard radius to reach more residents.
The motion to authorize the city manager to execute the purchase-and-sale agreement was moved and seconded. Councilors Weber, Mo, Rodley, Buck and Stout voted yes; the motion passed 5-0. The city will retain the specified wetland acreage for banking and the sale does not itself approve any future development plans.
Next steps: The sale authorization allows the city manager to proceed with the purchase-and-sale agreement; any subsequent development proposals would be considered separately through the city's land-use and development review process, with public notice to nearby residents.
