CITY COUNCIL APPROVES DEVELOPMENT

The Cape Girardeau City Council granted a variance Monday night to allow a developer to construct a residential subdivision with lots as small as 8,500 square feet.

Developer Larry McCulley had sought a variance from the 10,000-square-foot requirement for single-family homes in an R-1 zone.

Originally, he had asked to rezone the area to R-2, with a minimum 7,000-square-foot lots.

But he withdrew the request in advance of Monday night's scheduled public hearing in the face of opposition from neighbors on Lawanda, Stoddard and Ricardo streets.

About 40 residents of the area crowded into the council chamber to express their concerns about the proposed development of the 14-acre tract.

"We are always delighted when our citizens come to City Hall," said Councilman Melvin Gateley, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Al Spradling III.

Residents like Becky Essner, who lives at 1846 Stoddard, said they wanted to preserve their residential neighborhood.

They worried the development would lead to water drainage and erosion problems like those experienced in the nearby Red Oak Subdivision being built by McCulley.

Linda Boren, 1716 Stoddard Court, said she and her neighbors want the new lots to at least equal the size of those in the existing neighborhood.

The City Council agreed to grant a variance with the 8,500-square-foot minimum because city officials said many of the surrounding lots were in the 8,000-square-foot range.

Thirty-nine of the some 50 lots planned for the subdivision are under 10,000 square feet.

Plans submitted to the city showed 11 lots at under 8,000 square feet, most of them along Walker Creek where flood control improvements are planned.

But under the measure approved by the council, those lots will have to be increased in size.

In other action, the council set the city's property tax levy at 66 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, a 3-cent hike.

But City Manager Michael G. Miller said the council likely will have to lower the tax rate because of the increased assessed valuation caused by reassessment.

Miller said the state auditor's office calculates the allowable tax rates for each political subdivision.

The city has yet to hear from the state auditor's office. When it does, the council may have to lower the local levy, Miller said.

Cape Girardeau City Council

Public Hearings

Considered request to vacate city's interest in Walker Street and Audrey Drive.

Heard request for annexation of two tracts totaling 12.4 acres adjoining the city limits along Route W.

Consent Ordinances

Approved local tax levies.

Authorized placement of stop sings on Lambert Drive and Lowes Drive.

Amended city code relating to tax bills for nuisance abatement.

Approved record plat of Beavercreek Estates.

Amended city code on special assessments and tax bills.

Amended city code on weed abatement.

Accepted a water line easement.

Issued tax bill for demolition of dangerous buildings.

New Ordinances

Accepted a permanent easement for sewer line in the right of way of vacated Walker Street. First reading.

Vacated the city's interest in Walker Street and Audrey Drive. First reading.

Approved acquisition of property for the new Hopper Road alignment. First reading.

Authorized plans for paving various streets. First reading.

Established boundaries of a sewer district. First reading.

Authorized plans for sewer improvements in the Twin Lakes Subdivision. First reading.

Amended city code on seat belts and minors riding in the open bed of pickup trucks. First reading.

Amended city code on halfway houses. First reading.

Granted special-use permits to the Cape Girardeau School District for mobile classrooms at Clippard, Jefferson and Washington elementary schools. First readings.

Resolutions

Authorized the city manager to execute a release of lien for the Community Development Block Grant Program.

Authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with Southern Pacific Funding Corp. for a second deed of trust for property owned by Wanda Elfrink.

Authorized an application for grant funding under the Historic Preservation Program.

Appointed Nancy Jernigan, Julia Jorgensen, Elena Martinez and Chris Soppe to the Vision 2000 Community Relations Council.

Appointed Bruce Hacker to the Board of Appeals.

Appointed Kenneth W. Green Jr. to the Ethics Commission.

Liquor licenses

Approved liquor licenses for the SEMO District Fair Association and Patricia A. Allen, dba Celebrations at 615 Bellevue.

Other

Approved the preliminary plat for a replat of Victorian Estates.

Accepted improvements of the access road to the sewer treatment plant.