Contributed photo
Contributed photo
The Quantum Growth Partnership (Q5), an initiative started nine years ago, has worked to improve local economic development policies in Springfield and surrounding areas, finding success by getting changes implemented in three Springfield ordinances.
The first change was made to an ordinance concerning electric and water-installation fees for residential developments. Before the change, developers would go into a project without knowing the cost. A fixed system now allows these developers and their engineers to easily calculate costs for electric and water installation before submitting projects.
The second change involved an “agreed bill process,” which streamlined Springfield’s Land Subdivision Ordinance. The new process front-loads development, meaning the City Council reviews plans and makes determinations before developers spend significant amounts of money on a project.
The third ordinance change updated Springfield’s Arterial Roadway Network Plan. This change, the first in 17 years, is expected to be substantial considering that the Network Plan is part of a “developers agreement” that allocates a portion of road-upgrade costs to developments.
The partnership acknowledges that more work must be done in the coming years, from technical improvements to the Land Subdivision Ordinance to improving administration and management for city departments. In the last nine years, however, noteworthy progress has been made in economic development for the region.
Q5 is a public-private partnership that includes the Development Policy Council, with representatives from the City of Springfield, Sangamon County, the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission (SSCRPC), Springfield Metro Sanitary District, Capital Area REALTORS, the Springfield Area Homebuilders Association, developers, engineers, labor, bankers and other stakeholders in local development.
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