Thanks for the dialogue! Same to you.

I just skimmed your history and realized we have been responding to each other a bit. On your bass pro sign post and your old 7brew post.

Of course. I understand. It's really hard to articulate that I'm not a NIMBY while being super selective about local development.

See my other comment. I added a free article.

Here is an article without a paywall. It lists the council votes, too.

"Three councilmembers — Monica Horton, Criag Hosmer, and Mike Schilling — remained OPPOSED to the project. Councilwoman Heather Hardinger was not present for the vote"

Also, it was proposed that the city put up a median, but I don't think it's happening. If it does, the city has to pay for it.

One last note:

"Councilman Schilling said he fears the "Glenstone-ification" of that primarily residential stretch of Sunshine Street."

https://www.ky3.com/2023/01/10/springfield-city-council-approves-permit-allow-7-brew-location-e-sunshine/ What changes is the city is now paying for a median :(

Edit: I'm not sure the median will happen. But it's on the city's dime if it does.

I'm all for mixed-use development. In fact, I think the spot is great for a coffee shop. The issue for me, as well as the zoning commissioners and the majority of the surrounding neighborhood, is the drive-thru. Specifically, it's a very large drive-thru. We have already seen chic fil a's drive-thru cause congestion and accidents just down the road. The lot's size and location (across from an elementary school) just can't accommodate it. That's why it had a zoning restriction on it to begin with. A coffee shop or any other business without a drive-thru could have used the land without having to push it through countless zoning and council meetings. In the current case, the shop won't benefit and integrate with the actual community that will live around it. It's important to think about development in terms of placemaking. In other words, are we developing places we want to spend time in? Or are we developing disparate, quick destinations that you simply drive to and leave (drive-thru). That said, I understand that we don't attract a lot of fitting projects, so it feels like we are too picky and should settle for anything that feels like it could benefit the local economy even a little. However, these choices tend to haunt us when they become trends. And once the quick spurt it has on the economy tires out, the city still has to keep up with the surrounding infrastructure... and what are we left with? A chain drive-thru that employs a handful of people and makes it even harder for parents to walk their children to school?

Sadly, I know. I also belong to heart of the Westside.

Oh, God. Don't get me started on the car washes.

I am really surprised by how these unwanted projects get pushed through and forced upon the community. The zoning board denied them the permit several times. And yet.

You're skipping over the part about the need for third places. That bit seems more relevant to the conversation. It's fair to notice that a community craves certain kinds of spaces. And car dependency does influence the kinds of spaces we get to experience and choose between for first dates.

Ritter Springs is very secluded and really pretty at points. I bet the pond is frozen. There might be another spot on the Fullbright Spring Greenway, but I would scout it out first. But those are both free, as opposed to the bas pro stuff.

Pita Pit still has it on fountain. Or at least the one on battlefield did until they started remodeling.

The city will never enforce anything like that on Johnny Morris. It's a clear double-standard.

I would like to add that Google & Facebook reviews are actually really impactful... It's pretty easy to leave a review explaining his callousness.

EDIT: Also, it's not just that group. A lot of Springfield Facebook groups are just as toxic. I often see commenters make fun of people without homes and say jaywalkers deserve to be hit/locked up.

It sort of is...

Not at all affordable. Screw NIMBYs, but this isn't the mixed-use project we need.

I'm pretty sure it's a way to hoard land, get tax breaks, and generate passive income (and possibly launder money). It's absolutely ridiculous. There are five under construction on Kearney, between Kansas expressway and 65, not counting the one right there on 44/Kansas.

Seriously, what can we do to stop more from being built? They do not benefit the community. I'm looking for other people that want to get involved in ensuring we use our space wisely.

In the meeting I watched, I didn't hear him state his background and he didn't make a great case. Even still, rezoning a residential lot for a completely car-dependent business is just a move in the wrong direction. Sunshine is already so messed up (partially from the chic fil drive-thru.

Also, civil engineers don't necessarily have a tack record for helping communities be safe and self-sufficient.

Watch the zoning meetings if you want to see frat dudes argue that a drive-thru only business won't add congestion to an already congested area.