CITY POISED TO BUY LAND FOR PROJECTS

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight is set to move a little closer toward completing road projects funded by a city-wide transportation sales tax.

The council will consider two ordinances at tonight's 7:30 p.m. meeting that could move the projects along a bit faster.

The ordinances would allow the city to acquire land for the widening of Hopper Road between Kage Road and Interstate 55 and the construction of a portion of Vantage Drive and extension of Hopper Road between Mount Auburn Road and Kage Road.

The transportation sales tax, designed to raise $17 million to pay for a list of 20 road construction projects, will sunset in January 2001.

Projects on the list have been slowed recently because of land acquisition problems. The projects are only completed as the money comes in to pay for them.

In most cases the land for the right of way on both sides of the streets has been donated. But that is not the case along Hopper Road.

"We will have to go out and physically acquire the land through actual condemnation proceedings or pay for the right of way," said Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III.

The proposed ordinance lets the city begin the process of acquiring the land.

Spradling said the delays on each project were unavoidable. He said that completing all the projects on the list in just five years was unrealistic.

"I think next time the plan ought to be a little longer," Spradling said. "I think a seven-year plan is a little more manageable."

The council also will consider rezoning requests at its meeting.

The Planning and Zoning Commission denied a request of the American Legion Post 63 to rezone 701 W. Rodney Drive from a single family residential neighborhood to a local commercial district. The commission also refused to grant the Capaha Antique Car Club a special use permit so that the club could hold its meetings in a residential neighborhood.

Spradling didn't disclose how he would vote on either issues. But said, he does oppose spot zoning -- the process of changing a certain portion of residential neighborhoods to allow commercial uses.

"That is not something we try to advance at all," Spradling said. "We're changing the complexion of a neighborhood by allowing someone to use it for commercial purposes. That is not a good thing for a city to do."

Spradling said that allowing little pockets of commercial activity in neighborhoods was accpeted in the past, but it is not something that the city supports anymore.

"I can't think of an incident where we have approved spot zoning," said Councilman Jay Purcell. "Once you set a precedent of doing that, it is dangerous."