Ozark City Leaders Pass Development Project

Ozark city leaders voted Monday night and passed a Springfield contractor's plan for the Finley River Neighborhood development project.

Last month, the Ozark Board of Aldermen agreed to work with Hagerman New Urbanism.  The firm came up with a developer agreement and will present that to board members at Monday night's meeting.

Hagerman hopes to complete the project in four phases over the next three to five years.

Ozark Mayor Donna McQuay says she's heard plenty of opposition, but that the city has proven the plan is worth it.

"It's been a learning experience for all of us," she said.  "It's been an almost three-year project in the making and hopefully we've educated them enough to understand that it is not a dream.  It's now a reality.  It's going to happen."

Construction on phase one could start as early as this summer.  Overall, the project is estimated to cost more than $50 million.