LOGGING OPERATION MUST GET SPECIAL USE PERMIT

The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday night recommended that Brian and Debra Tracy be granted a special use permit so they can sell logs from their lot at 2525 State Highway 177.

The couple's company, Timberline International Building Products, has been selling logs from there for three years. It is located across the road from Timberline's offices, which are outside the city limits.

The commission also voted to recommend that the city council rezone 1.83 acres from residential to manufacturing to allow Monty's Mobile Homes at 621 S. Kingshighwy to expand to the east of its original site. The seller of mobile homes has occupied the land for 20 years.

A third applicant before the commission, Steve LeGrand, asked for a special use permit to build a mini-storage warehouse in the 100 block of North Silver Springs Road. He applied before even buying the land.

He won preliminary approval but only on condition that he make changes to make his facilities blend in better with the neighborhood.

By law, businesses need permits from the city before building. City ordinances require any land use to conform with zoning or for the owner to have a special use permit. The law calls for punishing violators with fines ranging from $10 to $500 or 10-day jail sentences for every day a violation exists.

Kent Bratton, city planner for Cape Girardeau, said the city intends to do nothing about the violations.

He said Monty's Mobile Homes expanded an existing use and didn't know the land around it was zoned residential. "There are industrial type uses all around," Bratton said.

Indeed, the stretch of South Kingshighway around Monty's has nothing more residential on it than a Blimpie Subs and Salads. Most of the other neighboring businesses are in metal buildings. The nearest homes are across a creek.

Monty Montgomery Jr., owner of Monty's Mobile Homes, said he bought the business from his father three years ago. He said he was in the process of getting a loan and went to the city for some paperwork when he found out he didn't have the proper zoning.