Cape Girardeau-Jackson committee makes first formal presentation of subdivision regulations to county commission

As the Jackson-Cape Girardeau Joint Committee on Subdivision Regulations made its first formal presentation to the county commission Monday, Commissioner Jay Purcell told the committee he was trying to keep an open mind about the need for the standards.

Purcell, an opponent of Cape Girardeau's request for peripheral zoning, said he believes the role of the government is to perform functions the private sector cannot.

While he understands some subdivisions have faulty infrastructure, he said, there are alternatives to government involvement, such as a voluntary standards program for developers. The idea was sent to him by Larry Bill, former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, and would allow developers to advertise their participation in the program, letting homebuyers know the standards were met.

Committee chairwoman Mary Miller said she talked to Bill and others about similar plans but didn't think the voluntary programs were in the best interest of the county because they didn't do enough to protect everyone.

The committee described some of the problems routinely faced when Jackson or Cape Girardeau annex subdivisions but also problems faced by people living in county subdivisions. Problems with sewer systems often result in the Department of Natural Resources becoming involved and requiring upgrades, which can mean large expenses for property owners, she said.

Miller also discussed Willow Heights, a development on Highway 25, that has had problems with storm-water runoff. She said the water will travel down the hill, under the highway and into a recreational pond owned by someone who is not part of the development.

The committee asked the commission for support to move forward with its work and requested it identify and appoint county residents to work with them in presenting their recommendations to county municipalities and developers.

'A little concerned'

Jim Goggin, who was the unofficial opposition leader to peripheral zoning, said he was initially impressed with the committee's findings but was a little upset with the request for county residents to help with the presentation.

"I'm a little concerned a group of people with city addresses already has this hard copy made up and now they want county folks to go out and sell it," he said. "We're revising, not creating."

Goggin said county residents should have been involved from the beginning.

Miller apologized for the lack of county participation thus far but said the proposal is a draft and county input is needed to improve upon it. Whenever the need for infrastructure standards was discussed in the past, she said, people asked for examples. She said the group was just trying to put together some ideas based on what Jackson and Cape Girardeau have experienced.

Commissioner Paul Koeper, who has been involved with the group and has attended several meetings, said he didn't view the lack of county representation as an insult.

"They needed to get their thoughts together first. They were getting something to start with and getting together some ideas," he said.

As the District 1 commissioner, Koeper represents county residents outside Cape Girardeau.

Presiding Commissioner Clint Tracy agreed there needed to be more countywide involvement with the group, but also said he'd like to see members of the financial community, the banks that fund the developments, involved.

Originally the committee had planned to ask for 90 days to present to municipalities and other groups before requesting commissioners place it on a November ballot, but the committee is no longer operating on a schedule. Once the process is over, commissioners could ask voters to decide on establishing an appointed county planning commission that would enforce the infrastructure standards.

Committee member Janet Sanders said the proposed regulations would only apply to new construction, not existing developments.

On the subject of plats filed, section five of the draft ordinance says "the county planning commission does hereby exercise the power and authority to pass and approve the development of plat subdivisions of land already recorded in the office of the county recorder of deeds if said plats are undeveloped. The plat shall be considered undeveloped if all of the public infrastructure improvements have not been installed or constructed pursuant to the provisions of this ordinance."

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