HOUSING PLAN GETS NOD; P&Z RECOMMENDS SPRIGG-BERTLING PROPOSAL BE APPROVED

The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday night unanimously recommended the City Council approve plans for a residential subdivision despite opposition from nearby residents.

The council will consider the issue Monday night.

Commissioners said they had no choice but to approve the preliminary plat for the 28-acre site at the southeast corner of Sprigg and Bertling because it met all city zoning and subdivision regulations. The land is zoned residential.

After the meeting, commissioners said it is questionable if the developer, DeHarder Real Estate of Satellite Beach, Fla., has the finances to proceed with what would be called The Capes Subdivision project.

R.J. McKinney, commission vice chairman, said the commission doesn't consider financial feasibility in reviewing preliminary plats that map out streets and lots.

About 25 people attended the meeting at City Hall. Many live near the proposed site of the subdivision.

Bill Rader, who lives at 613 Pieronnet Drive in the Sylvan Lane area, served as unofficial spokesman for the residents. He said the development would cause traffic congestion and add to overcrowding at Washington Elementary School.

"The traffic situation, I think, is absolutely going to be disastrous," Rader said.

DeHarder Real Estate earlier this year had proposed building 79 rental homes. But Chris Koehler, who surveyed the property for DeHarder, said the developer now wants to sell homes rather than rent them. DeHarder wants to build 59 homes on the site.

Koehler said those homes likely would be in the $100,000 price range. But he said he has no written information on the project; he has dealt with DeHarder officials solely over the telephone.

DeHarder officials didn't attend the commission meeting and haven't spoken with reporters.

McKinney and other P&Z commissioners said the proposed development meets city requirements regardless of whether DeHarder rents or sells the homes.

The Missouri Housing Development Commission earlier this year turned down DeHarder's request for a low-interest loan and tax credits to help finance construction of 79 four-bedroom rental homes. The development would have cost an estimated $7 million, a commission report shows.

Neighbors complained that the plan amounted to public housing.

The financing would have involved a $1.18 million loan at 3 percent interest, $4.6 million from the sale of tax credits to private investors and $1.38 million in conventional loans.

The low-interest loan would have been paid back over 25 years.

In its application to the commission, DeHarder said the homes would rent for $436 to $542 a month.

CAPE GIRARDEAU P&Z COMMISSION

Action

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.

City Hall, 401 Independence

Application

* Approved David O. Patrick Trust for a special use permit to asemble computer cables.

* Approved St. Francis Medical Center for a special use permit for its parking garage project.

Subdivision Plat Reviews

* Approved preliminary plat of The Capes Subdivision.

* Approved record plat of Hunter's Place Second Subdivision.

* Approved record plat of Pekios Subdivision.

* Approved record plat of DKR First Subdivision.

Council Referral

* Tabled issue of truck traffic on Lexington Avenue.