Cape Girardeau city council tables rezoning issue

~ Council tables request buy used-car dealership to operate out of manufactured home.

The Cape Girardeau City Council tabled a local used-car dealer's request to operate his business from a manufactured home.

Council members Monday night asked for the city staff to research the issue after dealer Pat LaFont said several other businesses currently operate out of manufactured or mobile homes.

Mayor Jay Knudtson voiced concern that some businesses might be operating in violation of city zoning laws and asked the city staff to investigate.

Council members said they don't want to rezone the property at 402 S. Kingshighway, but might consider a temporary special-use permit.

But the mayor worried that it could lead to more car dealerships and other businesses wanting to operate out of manufactured buildings.

At a public hearing, LaFont and business partner Roscoe Newbern told the council they want to remove old buildings on their industrial-zoned property and replace it with a manufactured structure until they can afford to build a permanent structure.

LaFont said it would improve the appearance of the property.

He asked the council to consider granting a special-use permit for use of a manufactured home as an office building for three years.

"It's expensive to build a building inside the city limits to meet the city codes," he said.

LaFont said Approved Auto Sales Inc. doesn't have the money to build a permanent structure right now.

LaFont and Newbern initially requested their property, which abuts both South Kingshighway and Commercial Street, be rezoned from M-1, light industrial, to M-2, heavy industrial and that the council grant a special-use permit.

But LaFont said they didn't want to rezone the property, but only made the request to meet city regulations.

City planner Kent Bratton said the city allows manufactured buildings to be used as permanent offices only in heavy industrial zones and then only with a special-use permit.

The city's planning and zoning commission had recommended the request be denied, arguing that it could open the door for manufacturing plants in an area where none currently are allowed.

But city attorney Eric Cunningham said the council could approve a special-use permit for temporary use of a manufactured home as an office.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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