Cape council OKs residential development over neighborhood objections

The Cape Girardeau City Council unanimously approved a planned residential development and its necessary rezoning Monday night despite continued opposition from neighborhood residents.

Neighbors had voiced opposition to developer Gary Arnold's proposed development on 5.4 acres of vacant land at 2930 Hawthorne Road. They contended stormwater runoff from the development could flood their backyards.

Arnold insisted his project won't increase the risk of flooding.

In early January, the council agreed to delay a vote on the project for at least 30 days for the neighbors to have time to secure an independent, engineering analysis of the flooding potential.

But attorney Tom O'Loughlin, who represents four families on Sharon Drive, wrote in a letter to city planner Ryan Shrimplin on Monday obtaining such engineering work was "too expensive for my clients at this time."

He stated: "We are hopeful the City Council will be convinced that exacerbated flooding is a reasonable result of the proposed development, but will understand if they disagree at this time."

O'Loughlin added his clients oppose rezoning the property from single-family residential to a planned development district because they feel the development is not compatible with surrounding homes.

Arnold plans to construct four single-family homes and 16 duplex units.

The project is only the second such planned development in the city. Ward 1 Councilman Joseph Uzoaru said, "I would like to see more of them in the future."

In other action, the council approved an agreement with BNSF Railway Co. for relocating railroad tracks to allow for replacement of a Mississippi River floodwall drainage pipe north of the Broadway floodgate. The city will pay the nearly $1.5 million cost of the land and track installation in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers' floodwall drainage project.

At the study session before the regular meeting, council members said the drainage work would alleviate stormwater flooding issues in Cape Girardeau's downtown.

Molly Hood, deputy city manager, said the current railroad track sits atop the drainage structure, making it impossible to gain access to the pipe and clean it out.

Replacing the drainage pipe will help prevent stormwater from backing up in downtown and strengthen the floodwall system, officials said.

"When we have heavy rains, we need it the most," said Ward 6 Councilman Wayne Bowen.

City officials said the Corps of Engineers has spent about $18.5 million repairing and improving the floodwall over a period of years. When this project and a final phase are completed within the next year, the Corps will have spent about $22 million improving the floodwall.

Hood said the cost of relocating railroad track is "a small investment in the grand scheme of things."

mbliss@semissourian.com

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