Cape Council greenlights zoning shift for day care amid community concerns

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 30 of the Code of Ordinances by changing the property zoning at 2530 Marsha Kay Drive on Monday, July 1.

The ordinance changes the property from a Single-Family Suburban Residential District (R-1) to a Medium Density Multifamily Residential (R-4) district.

According to the agenda report, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended changing the zoning to R-4 instead of the applicant’s requested Neighborhood Commercial District (NC). The applicant wanted to rezone to use the property for a commercial day care. After a hearing, neighborhood residents made it known they were fine with a church or day care on that property but did not want a commercial district. The commission then recommended changing it to R-4 so it can be used for the applicant’s indicated purposes but does not permit other commercial uses.

Cape Baby Daycare’s Mollen Gross said the location is “perfect in every way” for the day care. Stacy Dohogne Lane’s daughter goes to Mollen’s day care and describes it as a need for the community. She noted the new location will enable Gross to open up more spots.

Ward 4 Councilman David Cantrell said the building is very nice even though it is vacant.

“I can't imagine what Ms. Gross will do for that. Bringing life to that building, especially with our young,” Cantrell said. “There's nothing but great things been said about you, Ms. Gross, and I think those young children will be in good hands.”

He also said this would let more young families go to work with more options for child care.

Ward 5 Councilman Rhett Pierce said he had received several calls against the rezoning from people in his ward, with the calls concerning traffic in the area and property values.

Other business

Councilmembers also approved an agreement with All Clear Pumping & Sewer LLC for a Lead Service Line Inventory Project required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions.

According to the agenda report, the proposed work for the project is that the contractor will pothole/excavate water service lines determining the pipe material present. The contractor will also take photos of the exposed pipe and make them available to the City of Cape Girardeau as a part of the project.

According to the agenda report, the city took the lowest bid from All Clear Pumping and Sewer LLC at $748 per excavation. The city determined it could complete 595 excavations at a total price of $445,060.

The funding for the project will be covered through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Capital Improvement Sales Tax (CIST) water funds.

The council also accepted easements from Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri at 475 N. Main St. The approved action adds on 5 feet of easement and is required "to ensure adequate coverage" to expand on an easement that runs parallel with a current one.

The agenda report stated the easement was donated and the property owners will pay for recording the new easement.

The council reappointed three members to the Cape Dogwood Community Improvement District Board of Directors: Anandkumar Patel Jr., James P. Limbaugh and Mark Chapman Hogan.