Planning and zoning commission recommends casino rezoning request, development plan

A rezoning request and preliminary development plan for Isle of Capri's Cape Girardeau casino were unanimously recommended for city council approval without discussion Wednesday by the planning and zoning commission.

"I am happy to be down here with a real project instead of talking about what may happen or what could happen," said Dick Meister, Isle's vice president of design and construction.

Isle has asked the city to rezone its 23-acre development site at 800 N. Spanish St. from residential and light manufacturing to a planned development district.

During a public hearing on the rezoning request, no one spoke for or against the project.

The site is made up of roughly 58 parcels, of which about 20 have been acquired by Isle, Meister said during a brief presentation to the commission.

"We are looking forward to having the rest of them acquired in the next month or so," he said. "We are actively closing on the options we have and hope to start construction of the roadway in early spring."

Meister outlined future casino signage locations, some of which will require variances.

He also noted the new North Main Street will curve around The Reynolds House, a historic home that borders Isle of Capri's development site.

Isle is interested in donating a small amount of land for a public park area surrounding the house, which is across from the proposed casino entrance.

The request for rezoning specifies the maximum building height allowed would be 15 floors and the maximum building coverage of the site allowed would be 80 percent.

According to the preliminary development plan, Phase I includes a 137,000-square-foot building. The structure would include a 58,700 square-foot casino, 19,645-square-foot banquet facility/theater, 43,000 square feet of administrative office space, a small gift shop, 35,000 square feet of dining facilities, gaming facility offices, a small medical facility and banking area.

About 1,000 parking spaces are planned for the development.

Later phases of the casino development could include a hotel, parking garage, health and fitness center, additional offices, campground facilities, travel trailer parks and residential uses.

Isle will submit its final development plan in January with additional engineering details including elevations, electrical and mechanical drawings and landscaping plans, Meister said.

mmiller@semisourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

800 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau