CAPE GIRARDEAU AND JACKSON OFFICIALS SEE NEED FOR COUNTY P&Z

County planning and zoning would benefit both Cape Girardeau and Jackson, say leaders of both cities.

The Cape Girardeau City Council and Jackson Board of Aldermen met jointly Monday night at the Osage Community Centre to discuss stormwater management, a possible site for emergency water connection and county planning and zoning. It was their third such meeting together.

The cities have been working on mutual issues, realizing that what happens in one city can affect the other. "We've been working to expand the cooperation between the two cities over the period of three years," said Jackson Mayor Paul Sander. "There is a growing trust, so we won't be surprised."

By looking forward the cities are also considering the county, Sander said.

An issue of concern for both the cities as they grow and annex property is planning and zoning. Property annexed into either city must often be brought up to city standards.

Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones agreed. He said planning and zoning in the county wouldn't just affect outcounty residents. "Everybody is voting on this," he said.

The issue of county planning is scheduled for the Nov. 7 general election. Since Cape Girardeau County is a first-class county, voters must decide planning issues in a general election.

Roger Arnzen of the county's mapping and appraisal department said the ballot will only ask voters to approve planning in the county with an understanding that zoning ordinances could be implemented at any time.

"It's a question of trust, somewhat," he said. But voters will be able to see the zoning ordinances so that they know what lies ahead, Arnzen said.

"It won't be as restrictive as the cities," he said. "But it's a different ball game for the county."

John Dudley, who heads the county's planning commission, said the ordinance has been written to be as unaggressive as possible. "We looked at the county as it mostly is used today and where the growth would continue."

The majority of county land would be zoned as agricultural. Any land currently in use as residential or commercial property in an agricultural zone would be included at its current status in a grandfather clause, he said.

Sander said Jackson will support the ballot measure. "It would be silly not to," he said.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III said county planning and zoning is important for both cities. It makes us look at "what's on our fringes" and consider those developing areas as the county grows.

Initially joint meetings addressed issues of annexation and growth for Jackson and Cape Girardeau. However, there was no report on the joint annexation at the meeting. Instead, the cities are focusing on issues of stormwater runoff and erosion control.

Cape Girardeau and Jackson city engineers and public works departments have looked at four possible sites for connecting water service in the event of an emergency. The two cities have no plans to permanently connect water systems.

"This would be just in case of an emergency if one of the systems gets cut off," said Mark Lester, Cape Girardeau city engineer.

Likely it would mean that water use would have to be restricted since the pipes aren't large enough. The estimated cost of connecting the systems is $175,000.

Stormwater management has been another issue that both cities and the county have been studying. Cape Girardeau already has a stormwater runoff ordinance. Jackson has an erosion- control ordinance, but the two cities are looking at a way to make the regulations compatible.

Drafting a countywide ordinance that would control erosion problems and curb runoff is the most likely solution. Cape Girardeau and the county were both awarded grants in the past year from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for stormwater and erosion control projects.

Jackson will have top priority when applying for Department of Natural Resources grants in the future, a county representative said.