With respect to planning and platting in the City, it is the policy of the City to:
(a) Protect the public health, safety morals and general welfare,
(b) Maintain and enhance property values in the Springfield community,
(c) Stabilize neighborhoods,
(d) Promote orderly development to optimize the quality of life for the City’s residents, facilitate the creation and preservation of employment opportunities and enhance the economic prosperity of the Springfield community,
(e) Control population density to preserve the benefits of light and air to Springfield residents and to avert the deleterious effects of urban congestion,
(f) Encourage the development of affordable housing,
(g) Not unnecessarily burden the free and peaceful practice of religion in the Springfield community,
(h) Minimize adverse impacts on neighboring lands near the City’s boundaries and to preserve the spirit of cooperation among political subdivisions participating in Cooperative Economic Development Agreements, Joint Economic Development Districts and similar inter-governmental cooperation arrangements involving the City,
(i) Conserve agricultural land most suitable for agricultural uses to preserve its economic, environmental and aesthetic benefits for the Springfield community,
(j) Focus growth and development in appropriate areas which balance environmental, economic and infrastructure considerations,
(k) Protect and conserve water, land and air resources and mitigate conflicting land uses that may harm environmental quality,
(l) Provide for and protect open space and park and recreational systems to ensure accessibility for all Springfield residents,
(m) Provide for the coordination of public thoroughfares and for effective and safe traffic flow and avoidance of traffic congestion in the Springfield community,
(o) Provide for and facilitate a multi-modal transportation system with sensitivity to land use relationships, and
(p) Provide space for adequate energy delivery infrastructure, communications infrastructure and public water, wastewater and drainage infrastructure and to promote development where such infrastructure has been provided for.
The Planning Board and Regional Planning Commissions provided for in this Chapter shall exercise their powers so as to implement the foregoing City policy concerning planning and platting matters.
(Ord. 02-350. Passed 9-3-02.)