P&Z TO RECOMMEND REQONING ON STREETS

Cape Girardeau's Planning and Zoning Commission is recommending rezoning blocks of North Park Avenue, North West End Boulevard and Normal Avenue.

The commission Wednesday night voted to recommend granting the request of property owners to rezone the 300 block of North Park, the 500 block of North West End Boulevard and the 500 block of Normal from R-4 multiple family residential to R-2 single family residential.

Property owners say they want to maintain the family atmosphere in the neighborhood.

Last month 10 applications for rezoning were submitted by residents along Normal, North West End Boulevard and North Park, and zoning commissioners suggested residents in the area submit a blanket petition.

That petition, containing signatures from 18 residences in the area, was submitted Wednesday night.

"We've had a lot of rental properties in the last two or three years change over to young families," said Timothy Pickett, a North Park resident who signed the rezoning petition. "We want to promote a good, old neighborhood. We want to preserve what we have."

There are some multiple family rental properties in the area, and those would be grandfathered in if the City Council approves the zoning change, said R.J. McKinney, who chairs the planning and zoning commission.

McKinney said the majority of the homes are already occupied as single family residences despite the zoning designation, so the zoning change would essentially affect only any new development that might occur.

In other action, the commission recommended approval of three special use permits.

Pat and Edna Patterson and Jess and Freida Hopple requested a special use permit to allow the Pattersons to operate a photography studio at 2700 Bloomfield in an R-1 single family district.

The Pattersons plan to buy the Bloomfield Road home and operate their studio out of it.

Holigan Family Investments requested a special use permit for a parking lot and display home at 1988 and 1996 N. Sprigg St. in an R-2 single family residential district.

And the city requested a special use permit for the planned expansion of the water treatment plant at 20 E. Cape Rock Drive in an R-1 single family residential district.

The commission also recommended granting a special use permit to Selma Crisler to rent an apartment at 624 Commercial Drive in an M-1 light industrial district.

Crisler had originally requested rezoning the property from M-1 to C-3 central business district, but McKinney said the rezoning would constitute spot zoning.