Cape Girardeau council member says he'll keep pushing for peripheral zoning

Mark Lanzotti wasn't dejected, despite what can only be described as the drubbing he took Monday night.

The Cape Girardeau City Council member heard at length at the meeting from 200 vocal opponents who largely lambasted his peripheral zoning proposal. Still, Lanzotti said Tuesday he thinks once residents understand the plan's benefits, some version can -- and should -- be implemented.

"If anything, I was encouraged and enjoyed the dialogue after the meeting," Lanzotti said, adding he heard from five or six supporters. "I also enjoyed the ability to educate, to bring some light to the misconceptions about the plan and hopefully bring some clarity."

Despite what appears to be a steep, uphill battle, Lanzotti intends to push through with his efforts to get peripheral zoning on the books.

The proposal, which would give the council development authority within a two-mile border beyond city limits, looks to be a long shot at best, with strong public sentiment against it and all three Cape Girardeau County Commission members voicing opposition at some point. Two of three commissioners would have to vote for the measure for it to take effect.

A public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Osage Community Centre. Lanzotti is hoping that those in attendance will keep an open mind and make suggestions that could be incorporated into the proposal so it's more amenable to the public.

"This proposal is not set in stone," he said.

But despite Lanzotti's optimism, at least one county commissioner doesn't see the point of moving forward. Commissioner Jay Purcell said he thinks the city will withdraw its request for peripheral zoning before the hearing.

"I don't see why the city would keep pushing it if at least two commissioners are against it," Purcell said.

Purcell has his mind made up, saying he does not think there is anything the city can do to make him change his position. Not only would Purcell not vote in favor of the proposal, he said he would not even make a motion on behalf of the request, meaning it could die without a vote.

When discussing peripheral zoning, both men alluded to the same metaphor -- allowing the camel's nose under the tent, a saying that suggests a situation where permitting some small entry leads to a full-on invasion. In the ongoing peripheral zoning debate, Lanzotti says that wouldn't happen, but Purcell says it would.

"There is a lot of concern that this is the camel's nose under the tent," Lanzotti said. "It's not."

Purcell, and many residents who opposed the plan Monday night, don't see it that way.

"It's the camel's nose under the tent," Purcell said. "It's the slippery slope, then they try to increase regulations and I'm just opposed to that."

At the meeting Monday night, Purcell said he is looking out for the interests of his constituency when it comes to refusing the city's request. Purcell said he has spoken with 20 or 30 city residents by phone, e-mail and in person and they are also against it.

"They see it as intrusive government," he said.

While Purcell doesn't question the city's intentions with peripheral zoning, many government regulations start out with good intent but often become bloated, he said. He fears peripheral zoning may be the start of more government oversight.

Lanzotti, a Cape Girardeau lawyer, said he realizes any effort for the community to accept peripheral zoning will have to focus on education. He heard several misconceptions from opponents at the Monday meeting, such as peripheral zoning would increase taxes, school districts and nuisance enforcement. It doesn't affect any of those things, he said.

The peripheral zone would also not expand, he said, as the city grows. The council would have to come back to the commission if that issue ever arose, he said.

"I think there are many facets to the process," he said. "It is our desire to do this to protect our peripheral area. I am optimistic if we can find common ground, we can successfully implement peripheral zoning."

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