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Midtown vision advances: council hears sportsplex feasibility update and form‑based code rewrite
Summary
Consultants presented a second‑phase feasibility update for a Midtown multi‑sportsplex and a first‑pass form‑based code rewrite. Presenters said the plan now includes a field house, linear park, townhomes and retail, that they've met with more than 40 stakeholder groups, and recommended coordinated rezoning and code simplification to speed redevelopment.
Consultants working on Midtown planning gave council a progress report that combined a feasibility update for a proposed multi‑sportsplex and a draft approach to reorganize the city's form‑based code for Midtown.
Cole Peacock of Carden Associates and Scott Richardson described the sportsplex concept as a multi‑component project with a field house (hard courts and turf), a linear park integrated into the site, townhomes as buffers to single‑family areas, a boutique hotel and retail spaces. "We've identified the field house location ... and the park has the green space as well," Richardson said, noting the plan remains conceptual and will evolve as traffic, parking and access are resolved.
Consultants said they have conducted extensive stakeholder outreach—"over 40" meetings—and emphasized the need to coordinate with the Community Redevelopment Agency and the city's engineering department on infrastructure and CIP considerations. Councilmembers stressed predictability for developers and seamless coordination with the Midtown regulating plan.
Separately, Dover, Kohl representatives (Josh Frank and Joseph Cole) presented a first draft of proposed revisions to the city's smart code: changes include reorganizing definitions and standards, mapping Midtown-specific districts (to avoid optional zoning choices), simplifying district tables, and adding graphics to clarify frontage and parking rules. "Keeping it simpler, making it more organized... eliminating duplication and creating a lot of visuals" was a guiding principle, Joe Cole said.
Council members asked for closer coordination between the sportsplex study, the Midtown design standards and the comprehensive plan elements. Consultants said technical schematic drawings, CAD‑level plans and further stakeholder charrettes are expected in the next 60–75 days.
