Planning and Zoning nixes apartment building for recovering mental patients and wedding chapel

The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission recommended against zoning requests for an apartment complex for recovering mental patients and a wedding chapel and reception hall at Wednesday's meeting.

Both proposals were opposed by neighborhood residents.

With a 5-5 split decision, commissioners rejected a request by the Community Counseling Center to build a 21-unit apartment building for mental patients transitioning back into normal life.

Some commissioners took neighborhood concerns about patients "off their medication" who will "wander the area" into account when voting.

"One attendant who's there 24 hours a day; to me that's very little control unless you padlock the front door at night," said commissioner Ray Buhs.

The proposed housing at 402 S. Silver Springs Road would be subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It would sit adjacent to the Community Counseling Center offices where the center's 3,000 Cape Girardeau clients already go for treatment.

Proponents of the complex said the residents would be "stable" and "independent."

"People are not going to be admitted who don't have the capacity for independent living," said Jay White, director of project development and special services for the Community Counseling Center.

Some commissioners endorsed the project.

"They've done a lot of work to be self-sustaining, that's one of the criteria of this," said commissioner Bill Hinckley. "... I kind of object to the idea that you're going to have a hotel with a bunch of crazies inside."

But others voted mainly against subsidized housing in an area where it hasn't existed before. "This area's highest and best use is not subsidized housing," said commissioner Scott Rhodes. A petition signed by 26 area residents objecting to the plan was submitted to commissioners.

In October the commission similarly voted against Victorian Estates, a proposed subsidized housing complex for senior citizens east of Clark Avenue. Strong neighborhood opposition was also cited then.

Also rejected was a proposal to build a wedding chapel and banquet hall in the 1900 block of North Sprigg Street. The two structures would have a combined capacity of up to 450.

Area residents worried about loud and drunken revelers.

"My concern is having a lot of loud drunks out there hollering and hooting because they think they're in the country. Well, they're not. There's a neighborhood right there," said Daryl Morgan of Eden Way.

Commissioners said the proposal left open too many questions about size, parking and use. They followed the wishes of the 13 neighbors present Wednesday who did not want a change in the historically residential area.

"It's just not right for the area," said commissioner Harry Rediger.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

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