CITY DENIES PERMIT FOR BIRTHRIGHT MOVE

Residents along the 400 block of North Louisiana might have felt like the biblical character David battling the giant Goliath when they appeared before the Cape Girardeau City Council Monday night, but council members say they try to use the wisdom of Solomon when making decisions, especially those that affect entire neighborhoods.

The residents packed the council chambers hoping to persuade the council to deny a request from Birthright Inc. for a special-use permit for a home at 404 N. Louisiana.

They succeeded. The council voted 4-2 to deny the request.

45-minute hearing

"You might feel like David," said Hugh White, "but you should see it from up here. We know that no matter what we will make some friends mad on either side of this issue. All the council will agree that we try to stay as neutral as we can until we've heard everyone speak."

During the 45-minute hearing, six people spoke in favor of Birthright's request and five people spoke against the request.

The special-use permit only would allow Birthright to operate in a new location and cannot be transferred should the property be sold.

However, residents in the neighborhood said that traffic would increase once Birthright began seeing clients.

"There isn't anyone here who has any issue with the organization," said Deanna Long, who lives on North Louisiana and spoke on behalf of the property owners there.

But residents wanted to shift the focus from an emotional issue to one about following city regulations.

Long presented an outline of residents' concerns, which included traffic congestion on an already narrow street, an adverse effect on property values and the character of the neighborhood.

Birthright representatives said their agency served only 11 clients a day and usually no more than three at a time, so issues of traffic and parking shouldn't be concerns.

Several volunteers spoke about the needs for clients' privacy when they come for pregnancy testing or to receive help with infants and children.

The relaxed atmosphere of a residential neighborhood has served the agency well in the past, said Dolores Mier.

Council debates permit

Jay Purcell, who lives on Louisiana and represents that ward, said he would have to honor the request of the residents there. Frank Stoffregen and Matt Hopkins agreed.

White said he felt the request was reasonable and that a special-use permit wouldn't affect the neighborhood.

Richard "Butch" Eggimann said he didn't think Birthright would be any more of a bother than any other residential household. He also supported the request.

As Purcell and Eggimann discussed what criteria could be used to determine how the agency would affect a neighborhood, mumblings and mutterings of "Amen" could be heard from the residents in the chambers.

"I don't know how you can ignore the property owners," Purcell said.

Eggimann replied that he was taking the testimony of neighbors in the 100 block of Park Street who signed a petition in support of Birthright, which now operates its center on that block.

In other business:

* The council held public hearings on a sewer improvement plan in the Ranchito-Arena Creek watershed area, a rezoning request on Silver Springs Road at Highway 74, vacating right of way on Helena Street and filing an application for the taxi coupon public transit program.

* Approved on first reading an ordinance that would repeal parking on the north side of William Street near Indian Park and in the 1400 block of Bessie.