CAPE COUNCIL GIVES FIRST-ROUND APPROVAL TO REZONING REQUEST

The Cape Girardeau City Council gave first-round approval Monday night to a rezoning request from residents of North Park and Normal but held off on rezoning a section of North West End Boulevard.

In other action, the council also approved leasing the airport restaurant to Mac's Smokehouse.

The council heard a request from residents of the 300 block of North Park, the 1200 block of Normal and the 500 block of North West End to rezone properties from R-4 multiple-family residential to R-1 single-family residential.

Most of the properties in the three tracts are occupied as single-family homes, although they are zoned for multiple-family use.

Lester Gooden, who owns single- and multiple-family properties on North Park, said residents want to maintain the single-family environment and prevent any more multiple-family properties from being developed.

"It seems to be the overwhelming wish of the people in this area to be so rezoned," Gooden said. "The intent is that we have many children on the street. We have many families on the street. It is a neighborhood street."

There are two fraternity houses in the neighborhood, and "we want to make sure that no more of that happens," he said. "We've had enough of fast cars and beer bottles broken. We want to make sure that it remains as a neighborhood."

Some council members were concerned about the long-term effects of the rezoning.

All of the properties that operate as apartments or multiple-family housing would be grandfathered in under the zoning change.

Councilman Jay Purcell mentioned a property owner concerned that if his apartment building were destroyed after the rezoning, he would have to get permission from the Board of Adjustment to rebuild it as an R-4 structure.

Councilman Melvin Gateley also expressed concern about property owners on North West End who purchased a home with the intent of turning it into a bed and breakfast.

With an R-4 zoning, the owners could get a special-use permit, but a bed and breakfast would not be allowed, even with a special-use permit, in an R-2 district.

"A lot of people bought property for a specific purpose," Gateley said.

Councilman Richard Eggimann proposed deleting the 500 block of North West End from the ordinance until property owners can be questioned about their concerns. The amendment was approved.

In other action, airport manager Bruce Loy said leasing the airport restaurant to Mac's Smokehouse, owned by David and LaRue McAllister of Jackson, is a "win-win" situation.

The restaurant will be open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch, and for special events on weekends.