COUNCIL OKs PLAT FOR SUBDIVISION DESPITE OPPOSITION

Neighborhood opposition didn't matter.

The Cape Girardeau City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve the preliminary plat of The Capes Subdivision after listening to objections from about 40 residents of the Sylvan Lane area.

Mayor Al Spradling III said the council had no choice but to approve the preliminary plat.

He said a Florida developer's plan to build 59 homes on a site on the southeast corner of Sprigg and Bertling meets the city's zoning regulations.

Neighborhood residents, who live in expensive homes near the site, oppose plans to put rental homes on the 28-acre site.

Residents in the area said the development would make existing traffic congestion on Sprigg Street even worse, could add to overcrowding at Washington Elementary School and could lead to drainage problems along Sloan Creek.

Councilman Richard Eggimann admonished the crowd for criticizing rental housing.

"As a kid, I lived down by the shoe factory in a rental house," he said. He went to Washington School and later taught there.

"All these things fit in with my way of life."

The project involves building single-family homes, something Cape Girardeau needs, Eggimann argued.

Dr. Jeffrey Patton, 659 Sylvan Lane, said low-income housing would be an eyesore and decrease the value of his property.

Dr. David Crowe, 1420 Sylvan Lane, said the Cape Girardeau school district plans to build one or two schools not far from the proposed subdivision. He said the schools would be hurt by rental housing.

The developer, DeHarder Real Estate of Satellite Beach, Fla., had sought a low-interest government loan and tax credits to build rental homes.

But the local surveyor of the property told the Planning and Zoning Commission last week that the developer now wants to sell homes rather than rent them.

Spradling said city officials can't force the developer to reveal his plans.

It doesn't matter how it will be financed or even if rental homes are involved, the mayor said. Neither traffic congestion nor the impact on schools makes any difference when it comes to approving the development, Spradling said.

"It would be presumptuous of the council to try to zone to keep something out," he said.

CAPE GIRARDEAU CITY COUNCIL

Monday, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m.

City Hall, 401 Independence

Consent Ordinances

Established no parking on Sunset. Second and third readings.

Amended parking code. Second and third readings.

Rezoned part of the 200 block of North Pind Wood Lane. Second and third readings.

Granted a special use permit for a manufactured home at 1140 N. Frederick. Second and third readings.

Granted a special use permit for a business to rebuild auto parts at 833 N. Spanish. Second and third readings.

Granted a special use permit to Humane Society of Southeast Missouri for a small-animal crematorium at 2536 Boutin Drive. Second and third readings.

New Ordinances

Issued tax bills for paving of Charles Street from Hawthorne Drive to West Rodney Drive. First reading.

Accepted temporary easements fro the wastewater treatment plant access road. First reading.

Accepted deed and easement for the South Sprigg Street elevation project. First reading.

Approved the record plat of DKR First Subdivision. First, second and third readings.

Approved the record plat of Hunter's Place Second Subdivision. First reading.

Approved the record plat of Pekios Addition. First reading.

Resolutions

Approved agreement with Burns & McDonnell Engineering for the water treatment and distribution system project. Reading and passage.

Awarded contract to Loyd Slinkard Painting Co. to paint the exterior of the Cape River Heritage Museum. Reading and passage.

Awarded contract to Kajacs Contractors for the outfall, relief sewer project. Reading and passage.

Amended fixed-base-operator lease at the regional airport. Reading and passage.

Terminated lease agreement with MDI Inc., Prestige Air Services. Reading and passage.

Awarded contract to Mississippi Valley Real Estate Services for the Cape LaCroix Creek/Walker Branch flood control project. Reading and passage.

Other

Accepted sewer and street improvements for Jung Subdivision.

Accepted sewer improvements for Ruby Tuesday Restaurant.

Approved request of Knights of Columbus to sell Tootsie Rolls.

Agreed to meet with Colonial Cape Girardeau Foundation.

Set an election for April on charter amendments.

Approved preliminary plat of The Capes Subdivision.