Developer withdraws rezoning request for apartment complex in face of opposition

The developer of a controversial apartment project withdrew his rezoning request Monday, hours before the Cape Girardeau City Council was to consider setting a public hearing on the issue.

At its meeting, the council removed the item from the agenda.

Ronald Richmond of RS Real Estate Investments LLC had proposed rezoning a five-acre, wooded tract at 4161 Hopper Road from R-1, single-family district, to R-4, medium-density multifamily residential district.

Richmond sought to build five four-unit apartment buildings on the site just west of Interstate 55 and east of Twin Lakes subdivision. Residents in the subdivision had objected to the project.

The city’s planning and zoning commission voted to recommend denial of the rezoning request after hearing from residents earlier this month who worried an apartment complex would increase traffic congestion, pose a traffic-safety problem and hurt residential property values.

Twin Lakes area residents crowded into the council chambers for Monday’s meeting to voice their objections to the proposed development but left without a word after Mayor Harry Rediger informed them the rezoning request had been withdrawn.

“It is a non-issue and will not be on the agenda,” he told the crowd.

If the developer submits a new proposal, it first will have to be heard by the planning and zoning commission before it can come before the council, Rediger said.

At Monday’s regular meeting, the council accepted a $5,000 trail-improvement grant from Keep America Beautiful Inc.

Julia Thompson, parks and recreation director, said before the meeting the grant will be used to construct a concrete pad and install an informational kiosk, park bench and bike rack where the trail begins by the Osage Centre back parking lot.

Thompson said the walkway, which begins there, connects to the main part of the trail in Osage Park.

But she said there is no sign to indicate the walkway leads to the walking trail.

The grant project will help bring greater visibility to the trail, she said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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