DEVELOPERS PUSH EAST MAIN INTERCHANGE

JACKSON -- Developers of a proposed golf course and residential community on Bloomfield Road say they also want to develop a 525-acre site near Cape Girardeau County roads 616 and 618, abutting the Southeast Missouri State University farm.

But the developers told the Cape Girardeau County Commission Thursday that the land won't be developed until the state constructs an East Main Street interchange at Interstate 55.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said local officials are pushing the state to develop such an interchange. At this point, such a project could be eight to 10 years down the road, officials said.

Developer Bob Suelmann of the Prestwick Group in Cape Girardeau said road improvements are vital if the land is to be developed.

If the interchange is built, the land could be developed for a shopping center or recreational sports complex, he said.

Chris Koehler of Koehler Engineering and Surveying said the interchange is critical to any development there. "It will never exist without the interchange," he said.

The development group is proceeding with construction of a new Nicklaus-designed golf course at Bloomfield Road and County Road 206. Suelmann said plans to are build an 18- to 27-hole golf course and a residential complex of 500 to 800 homes. The development is being called Prestwick Plantation.

Construction is slated to begin on the development this year, with the golf course slated to open in two years.

Initially, it would be a public course. But future plans are to make it private, Suelmann told the commissioners.

Homes would be constructed around the golf course over the next 10 to 15 years.

The residential community ultimately could comprise about 3,000 people. Developers said the community might be incorporated or it could be annexed by the city of Cape Girardeau.

Suelmann said the area ultimately could have a tax base of $300 million to $400 million.

The development group would like help in bringing utilities to the site. Suelmann said golf courses are one of the amenities that help attract new industry to a community.

But Jones said the county isn't in a position to assist with a golf course development.

Jones said the county can't abate county property taxes for developments because it doesn't have a general revenue property tax. "We live on sales tax and fees in Cape County," he said.