HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence PLANNER 4/13/2009
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Eugene Hulett
3530 Game Fanm Road #27
Springfield OR 97477
April 13, 2009,
225 FIFTH STREET
SPRINGFIELD, OR 97477
(541) 726-3753
FAX (541) 726-3689
, www.ci.springfield.or.us
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Dear Mr. Hulett:
Staff is responding to your inquiry about whether a hotel and conference center could be built on
vacant commercial property adjacent to the Sacred Heart Medical Center. ;The zoning of this
property does permit this type of project, but the applicant would need to demonstrate that the
site and necessary public infrastructure could accommodate a development of this kind. The
Development Services Department has received no materials, requests or inquiries to indicate
that this type of development is planned for this site. '
The category of "conference center" is not specifically listed or defined' in the Springfield
Development Code, but there are similar categories such as "exhibition, hall". The City's'
Development Code (Section 5.11-120.B) allows the Director to determine the permissibility of a
use not specifically listed in the Code: "A new use may be considered to be a permitted use
when, after consultation with the City Attorney or other. City Staff, the Director determines that
the new use: 1. Has the characteristics of one or more use categories cu'rrently listed in the
applicable zoning district; 2. Is similar to other permitted uses in operational characteristics,
including but not limited to, traffic generation, parking or density; and, 3. Is. consistent with all
land use policies in this Code which are applicable to the. particular zoning district." Based on
this provision, a conference center may be allowable. Hotels and motels would be permitted
under the existing zoning. Any commercial development proposed for the site must receive site
plan approval before construction can begin. Neighborhood notification of the development
proposal would be provided, and residents would have an opportunity to provide comments.
Even though the existing commercial zoning might allow for a hotel and conference center to be .
considered adjacent to the hospital, there are at least two significant challenges' that such a
project would face. First, the City of Springfield and Oregon Dept. of Transportation have
imposed a strict limit on the amount of traffic that can be created by the hospital and adjoining
commercial areas. In combinati'on with the hospital, any substantial commercial development,
including a large hotel and conference center, may have the potential ,to generate more
vehicular trips ,than can be accommodated by the existing streets and intersections, Such a
circumstance usually results in a down-scaled development proposal, additional improvements,
to the capacity of the street network, or a combination of both,
The second challenge is the approved RiverBend Master Plan, This plan does not show or
consider a hotel and conference center adjacent to the hospital. Additional land use approvals
would be required before a hotel and conference center could be allowed on the site,
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A final note that may be of interest to you is that the vacant commercial land is owned by
Peace Health and it is the City's understanding that they intend to create a health care campus
around the hospital. A hotel and conference center might not fit in with those plans; however,
this is a matter that is PeaceHealth's to pursue,
Upon implementation of a nodal development designation for the site, the commercial zoning
will still allow'a hotel; a conference center could be considered based on the process of Section
5,11-120 described previously in this letter. However, some of the current commercial
development standards will change, These include requirements to relocate parking areas'
away from the street, increase the amount of building floor area, and bring the buildings closer
to the street front. These additional standards would be addressed through the required site
plan review process,
If I can provide, you with additional information or assistance, please contact me at your
convenience at 726-3784 (direct),
s;,rerepJ.
Limbird'
ringfield Development Services
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