JACKSON RESIDENTS CONTEST SUBDIVISION OFFICE

JACKSON -- Locating a sales office in the Holigan Homes Savannah Ridge Subdivision would be out of character for the area and would set a precedent for future developments, speakers at a public hearing said Monday.

The hearing before the Jackson Board of Aldermen was held to consider Holigan Homes' request for a special use permit to place the office in the subdivision. The permit would have to be renewed after two years.

Pat Schreiner, who lives on nearby Ridge Road, contended that other developments have had no trouble selling houses without a sales office and that allowing one would set up expectations for other developers.

Schreiner said she also opposes the gravel parking lot that would be built across from the sales office.

"It doesn't fit," John Johannes, another Ridge Road resident, said of the sales office. "Houses can be sold without that."

If granted as requested, the permit also would allow a lighted sign in front of the sales office, a feature opposed by another speaker.

Mayor Paul Sander echoed the speakers' belief that the permit would set an important precedent. "It will certainly be good if we do the research on how this has been done in other cities," he said.

"If there is one set (a precedent), we want it to be a good one."

In other business Monday, the aldermen held a public hearing and passed an ordinance approving a special use permit for Jackson Senior Garden Apartments in Green Meadows Fourth Subdivision.

The permit allows developer Chad Hartle to put six buildings with a total of 36 units on a five-acre lot. Without the permit, Hartle would have to put the units into one building, which he said would make it impractical for seniors.

The permit was recommended by the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.

The cost of the housing project for seniors is approximately $2 million.

In other business, the Board of Aldermen:

-- Authorized a contract with Hamon Power Services to repair and re-tube a jacket water cooler at the city's power generation plant. The cost is $139,400. City Administrator Steve Wilson said another of the plant's radiators will be repaired and re-tubed later.

-- Authorized a quarterly payment of $5,500 to the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association.

-- Authorized advertisement of bids for a new fire truck.

-- Authorized a contract with Apex Paving Co., Inc., to overlay eight streets and part of a parking lot with asphalt. The Apex bid was $33,000.

-- Were told that the city is ready to advertise for bids on the Grandview Acres Sewer Project. Construction would begin late in the year.