BUSINESS: FRENCH DEVELOPER KILLS SUBDIVISION PLAN FOR JACKSON

JACKSON, Mo. -- In 1997, French businessman Pascal Dunod announced the purchase of 109 acres of Pioneer Orchard land west of Jackson and his plans to build an upscale subdivision with large lots plus a fountain, bakery and restaurant.

When the one-year extension of Dunod's preliminary plat for French Orchard Estates expired in June, Jackson officials didn't know why the project had halted. Some wondered if he had run short of money. Dunod spent more than $1 million on the land.

But Sharon Hopkins, Dunod's agent here, says problems with the city have caused her client to back out of his plans, a contention that mystifies city officials.

"We are not going to pursue any activity," she said. "He has run into problems with the city of Jackson he doesn't want to deal with."

Aside from a reference to city bureaucracy, she refused to specify those problems because part of the property is for sale. "If somebody felt they were going to get into the same problems, they might not want to buy the property," she said. But, she added, someone else might not encounter the same difficulties.

Jackson officials are dumbfounded to learn that Dunod is unhappy about his dealings with the city.

"That's quite shocking," said Rodney Bollinger, the city's planning and zoning official. "It was on the right track. I just thought maybe they had some financial problems."

Bollinger said the preliminary plat approval for French Orchard Estates went smoothly. "There weren't any items that were controversial. Everything was up front in terms of the bakery and fountain. Nothing was ever denied."

He said he phoned Hopkins to remind her that the plat approval was about to expire. The extension was easily approved, he said.

When the extension was about to expire, Bollinger said he called again but received no response.

The next step would have been for Dunod to submit the final plat and improvement plans. "I never saw page one of any of that," Bollinger said.

All 109 acres of property were annexed into the city after the sale. Dunod did develop the infrastructure on more than 20 acres south of Highway 72. Part of the land became the Jackson Medical Center developed by Dr. Charles S. Pewitt. Jackson developer John Lichtenegger bought the rest.

Bollinger said all of that development occurred without any difficulties. None of the acreage north of West Jackson Boulevard has been developed and is now for sale.

Dunod bought the 109 acres for $1.05 million in 1997. The asking price on the remaining approximately 80 acres north of West Jackson Boulevard is $950,000.

Hopkins said there are no problems with the land itself.

Dunod still plans to open a bakery, she said, but it probably will be in Cape Girardeau County, not in Jackson.