Much Ado About Something

Valuing Direct Democracy amidst Competing Social Interests

February 10, 2026

by Donna Hemann

It's good to know what your values are when big changes are happening. Values give us immediate sound bites when asked our opinion and are a compass for choosing. Springfield is undergoing a lot of big changes that impact University Heights, and as we move forward, our choices not only will impact various public policies and alterations in our physical environment but will reflect back to us our and our neighbors' values.
Direct Democracy is one value I believe is important to keep alive right now. It goes beyond simple Representative Democracy, giving citizens a direct and powerful voice through mechanisms such as ballot initiatives and referendums. There are a lot of little choices that go toward sustaining Representative Democracy, but those choices, eventually, show us that they make big impacts.

Recent changes which affect our neighborhood and involve the democratic process include Missouri legislative bill, HB2847, promoted by the Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Republican Representative Jeff Knight of Lebanon, a City Council vote approving the pursuit of a $25 million dollar grant to improve Sunshine street between Kansas Expressway and Glenstone, and the potential purchase of the BK&M properties by a developer interested in maximum-intensity multifamily housing.

As with most big changes, the devil is in the details, but finding the devil is a process often shunned because it involves time, digging through dry information, and asking uncomfortable questions. Knight's bill HB2847 didn't take much effort to figure out, and gratefully many of us jumped in to say our piece. The gist of it is simple: it proposes that Springfield voters, only (due to population parameters), lose their right to a referendum when they oppose a City Council vote on zoning. This type of move was tried before in 1994 but Springfieldians showed up at the ballot box to retain the Referendum in a 16,080 to 5,272 vote. While developers continue to fight to remove rights from voters, neighborhoods continue to fight to retain them. Stephanie Hein, State Representative for the 136th district (which makes up part of our neighborhood), opposes the Bill; you can add your voice to the discussion by attending one of her town hall meetings at the Brentwood Library, Sunday, February 22nd or Sunday, March 29th, both at 1:30pm.

City Council has also just passed a resolution related to HB2847. This resolution was sponsored by Brandon Jensen, who drafted the original language, Mayor Jeff Schrag, and at the last minute, Craig Hosmer. But here's where things get tricky. The resolution, which does not directly oppose HB284, does refer to Forward SGF and the new City Code updates, and aims to gain "clarity from the citizens of Springfield as to the appropriate use of the referendum" in implementing those things (Springfield Daily Citizen, Jack McGee, Feb.10, 2026).

While it's good some City Councilpersons are appealing for more localized control, it is wise to be vigilant about nuances in language and implications of those nuances. Many parties and entities are vying for control. During Ken McClure's mayorship, I remember talking with numerous people who explained to me the City's plan to develop Sunshine, yet that plan was not officially disclosed to the public and Forward SGF did not hint at it either. I talked with one developer who said he intended to be a big investor in that plan. It is not a stretch to now look at the recent Code changes and other things and draw certain conclusions.

A loss of control, in any of many imaginable contexts, is rarely sudden, or because of a one-off, blatant change or proposition; it usually happens gradually and often covertly. This observation is a reminder to go slow in assessing positive and negative values of policy makers' choices and to get involved early and often if you want to be part of shaping outcomes.

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A resolution to apply for a $25 million dollar federal BUILD grant to improve Sunshine Street between Kansas and Glenstone was passed by City Council February 2nd, and should, based on citizen input and staff analysts of the Sunshine Corridor Study, aim to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion and enhance transportation diversity. The grant requires a 20% local match which will be funded by sales tax revenue. Now here comes one of those little devils: BUILD stands for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development. According to Scott Bachman, Springfield's transportation planner for Public Works, it's "a highly competitive program to fund infrastructure improvements that spur development" (KSMU , Michele Skalicky, Feb. 3, 2026). Yet still no release of information from the City about having distinct plans for development on this stretch of City-maintained roadway. As reported by Mike Landis with KOLR-OzarksFirst.com (Jan.20, 2026) the new grant application is for "future improvements" and one can't help but wonder what 'improvements' are already imagined and set in motion beyond aesthetic, traffic calming and safety measures.

The BUILD grant is also what was awarded to the Grant Avenue Parkway project, which former Mayor McClure envisioned as "a strong economic vitality corridor stretching from Wonders of Wildlife...to park Central Square" (Grant Avenue Parkway Management Website, grantavenueparkway.com). This project is nearly complete and boasts some impressive transportation improvement components. The 3-mile roadway route has new multi-use trails and sidewalks on both sides, intersection improvements, pedestrian crossings, undergrounding of utilities, fiberoptic internet connectivity, landscaping and other aesthetic enhancements. But, as expected and clearly planned, infrastructure has changed too. Eighteen of 66 properties that have sold since the beginning of 2022 are in areas that require commercial on ground level with the potential for upper level residences. Large scale residential developments have emerged as well, including the multifamily Nordic Landing, The Glade, and The Knoll. These are changes I hope residents of the area are celebrating, and certainly diverse housing options and economic investment are good and necessary things. Governmental transparency and direct democracy are also good and necessary things, now more than ever, in this age of AI and the end of face to face interaction as our primary means of communication.

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Concerning the BK&M properties and future development there, Josh Manning, the prospective buyer who recently met with neighbors at an open meeting, says he will not purchase the property until the deed restriction lawsuit is settled. If the lawsuit is not won, and he purchases it, he states he will build multifamily housing at as high an intensity as possible in order to recuperate the high, commercial price BK&M is demanding. If City Council approves changing this part of our neighborhood to multifamily zoning, people who oppose that still have the referendum option.

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University Heights residents are known for being directly involved with issues that affect us. We are known for civic activism. Let's keep our voices among those shaping policies that affect things we care about.