NO ZONES: COUNTY COMMISSIONERS END PLANNING MEASURES

JACKSON - Sixteen days after voters rejected county planning and zoning, the Cape Girardeau County Commission took formal action abolishing its planning department and related ordinances.

After a meeting with J. Fred Waltz, who was the attorney for the county planning commission, the county commission Thursday unanimously approved a resolution he prepared to carry out the will of voters from the Nov. 3 general election.

"For all intents and purposes it is dead," said Huckstep, in reference to the county planning department.

Later in the morning the commission met with Charles Engelhart, who served as part-time director of the planning commission, to discuss what was necessary to get records properly stored.

The resolution approved by the county commission Thursday states that the intent of the order is not to terminate any regulations requiring compliance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency standards concerning the National Flood Insurance Program.

Without compliance with flood insurance regulations, financial institutions would not lend money for real estate developments in outcounty areas.

The order also appoints Roger Arnzen, the director of mapping and appraisal in the assessor's office, to be responsible for reviewing permits and maintaining records necessary for administration of the flood insurance program.

"Mr. Engelhart will stay long enough to handle the transition, and he will be leaving," said Huckstep. He anticipated that Engelhart will finish his work around Dec. 4.

"There are a lot of records to be stored and saved and we've got to make sure the records are protected," said Huckstep.

The commission's order immediately discharges the planning commission, board of adjustment, and any other commission appointed under the county planning statutes.

In addition, the order voids the Land Subdivision and Mobile Home Park regulations that were adopted on Jan. 2, 1975. It also voids the Official Master Plan, used to guide development in unincorporated areas that was adopted on May 23, 1977.

A setback line ordinance, adopted on Jan. 25, 1988, was also voided by the order.

The three commissioners, who had adopted a zoning ordinance that would have taken effect Jan. 1 if voters had not turned down planning and zoning, took a little while to formally abolish county planning because they did not want to jeopardize federal flood insurance coverage.

Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander explained that the program requires building permits.

"People will still have to apply for a building permit in order to get flood insurance," said Sander.

He added that things like subdivisions, already formed when county planning was in effect, would not be altered by the commission's action. However, new subdivisions will not be subject to regulations.

Sander noted that there are no longer restrictions on where and how many mobile homes can be placed in the county, and that a landfill could essentially go anywhere as long as the proper standards are met.

County planning was approved by voters in 1972. However, a group of citizens was successful with a petition drive earlier this year to place the issue back on the ballot. The petition effort was organized by people who were opposed to the proposed zoning ordinance.