PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD TABLES REQUEST FROM ABSENT APPLICANT

The city's planning commission tabled Wednesday its third request in two months for rezoning and special-use permits for mini-storage units.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to table the request of Michael L. and Debra K. Annis to rezone 1217 William St. from an R-3, two family residential district, to C-1, local commercial district, and for a special-use permit for mini-storage units at that location.

The issue will be resubmitted at the Sept. 13 meeting.

Only one person appeared before the commission -- a neighboring property owner with questions about what the building would look like. Since the applicant wasn't available to answer questions, the commission put the matter on hold.

City Planner Kent Bratton said his office would send a letter to the applicant asking that questions about access on William Street, parking, setbacks and easements be answered before the next meeting.

Earlier requests for rezoning and special-use permits from Emad and Marie Salamy for property at 336 N. Sprigg St. and from Larry W. Stone at 327 S. Lorimier were both denied.

A new site plan from Larry Stone was presented to the commission Wednesday. Stone had told the city council Monday night that the plan they had for consideration was not accurate. The council tabled Stone's request until its next meeting Sept. 5.

The commission had denied Stone's request July 14 by a vote of 9-0 because the neighborhood would have been adversely affected. Historic homes and residential property would not have benefited from the additional traffic a storage unit would bring, commission members said.

During the council study session, Councilman Tom Neumeyer asked that the commission consider adopting specifications for lot size to simplify future requests.

However, each special-use application has to be considered separately, said Charlie Haubold, chairman of the planning commission. "We look at all of them because there are different neighborhoods and traffic issues," he said. "Setting a guideline would be difficult."

In other business:

The commission voted to recommend that the city council create four lanes of traffic on Mount Auburn Road south of Independence to Kingshighway. Currently, Mount Auburn Road from Route K to Independence Street is four lanes but becomes two after the intersection.

ACTION TAKEN

Planning and Zoning Commission

Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.

Cape Girardeau City Hall

Applications

* Approved request of Sherman and Syvilla Swan for a special-use permit for a group home day care at 1200 S. Ranney Avenue in an R-2, single family residential district.

* Tabled request of Michael L. and Debra K. Annis to rezone 1217 William St. from R-3, two family residential district, to C-1, local commercial district, and for a special-use permit for mini-storage units at that location.

* Approved request of Tom and Karen Mogelnicki and Charles and Barbara Travers to rezone 1000 Kingsway Drive from R-1, single family residential district to C-2, general commercial district.

Other items

* Accepted motion to amend subdivision regulations regarding digital submission of final plats and record drawings.