Cape council rezones Hopper Road property, OKs removal of trailers to make room for residential development

The Cape Girardeau City Council rezoned property Monday at 2640 Hopper Road, clearing the way for a residential development that will remove dilapidated mobile homes that have been an eyesore for years.

The nearly one-acre site is immediately west of Dunkin’ Donuts.

The council’s action followed a public hearing at the meeting on the request to rezone property from C-2, highway commercial, to RUMD, residential urban mixed density.

Dejoys of Shoneys Inc., which owns the property, sought the rezoning request.

The owner wants to redevelop the site and construct an eight-unit apartment building, Strickland Engineering’s Marc Mahnke told the council.

“We can make a tremendous improvement to the property,” he said, speaking on behalf of the property owner.

Mayor Harry Rediger said the project would be “a major improvement” for the Hopper Road neighborhood.

City planner Ryan Shrimplin said before the council meeting city staff “viewed it as an opportunity to clean it up” and eliminate an eyesore.

An RUMD district provides for moderate density residential development with a maximum of 12 units per acre, according to the city code.

But Shrimplin said “there are a lot of constraints on that site” because a creek runs through the property. In addition, the developer would have to provide a “buffer” area along the western edge of the site, which is adjacent to a house.

Shrimplin said the mobile homes were installed on the property some time ago and continued to exist as a nonconforming use.

The proposed development would provide “an appropriate transition” between commercial and single-family residential properties, the city planner said.

Cape Girardeau’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the rezoning request last month.

In other action, the council approved an ordinance amending the city’s fence regulations and adopted a five-year capital-improvements plan.

At the urging of Ward 1 Councilman Joseph Uzoaru, the council made a slight change to the new regulations regarding barbed-wire fences.

The city staff had proposed barbed wire and razor wire be prohibited on any fence adjacent to a residential use or district, an elementary or middle school, a commercial day care or a park.

But at a study session in advance of the regular meeting, Uzoaru said he saw no reason to prohibit such fencing adjacent to a residential area.

He said there are “numerous cases” of barbed-wire fences that have been installed in residential areas of the city.

Uzoaru said he doesn’t believe barbed wire poses a danger in residential areas.

“I just don’t think it is an issue,” he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.