The Springfield City Council approved preliminary plans from a developer for a shopping center with a Harvey’s grocery store on Highway 21 at Beebe Road.

Council members unanimously voted in favor of the plans at their meeting Tuesday night.

City Manager Brett Bennett told the council the main idea was to look at the layout of the streets and general location of infrastructure.
Brandon Graham from JSI Springfield, who is developing the site, said work on the project and its expected opening will take place as soon as possible. There is a good jump-start on the plans, he added.

“We would love to be started in the next 60 to 90 days,” he said.

Graham said the company does not have any clients locked into deals, but they are having initial conversations.

“We would love to have 50, 75 percent or greater leased up before we ever open the business,” he said. “They could open with us as one big grand opening.”

Bennett said the plans allow for eight to 10 businesses at the center.

Council member Butch Kieffer said after looking over the plans he is happy with the proposed project.

“If the final project is laid out as nicely as this preliminary plan is, we certainly welcome you to Springfield,” Kieffer said.

The grocery store also will have a pharmacy and plans appear to call for a drive-through window for the pharmacy.

“It will be a 34,000 square foot full service store,” Graham said.

He said the buildings will be built at the same time, mimicking the same architecture.

Bennett said this is the first step and JSI will be coming back to the council to have future plans approved.

Alderman asked if the group’s discussions with the Department of Transportation included a traffic light at Beebe Road. Graham said they can “foresee the need for a light there in the future,” but it will not come with this project.