RIVERBOAT ZONING GETS FIRST OK

The Boyd Gaming Corporation's hearings on rezoning and a special use permit at the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission's meeting Wednesday met no opposition.

However, a request by Donnie J. and Herice L. McClinton for a special use permit to operate a day care center failed to gain the commission's endorsement. The matter could still come up at the next city council meeting next Monday.

One reason for opposition to the day care center for more than six children at 1316 Wayne Street was that it could create a traffic hazard. The proposed day care center site is in a single-family residential district.

Boyd Gaming requested to rezone 230 North Main Street from a multiple family residential district to a central business district. Boyd would extend the lot at the southwest corner of Main and Bellevue.

In addition, Boyd Missouri Inc. made a request for a special use permit from Downtown Parking Inc., Kidd Oil Company, the Cape Girardeau Downtown Investment Company, J.D. Main and Keith Huckstep for land-side support facilities and parking for an excursion riverboat casino along the east side of Main Street.

The site would extend from Broadway to Mason Street, excluding the Walker tract. It would include the Buckner-Ragsdale building and 231 North Main Street, in a central business district, and a heavy industrial district.

Both the rezoning and special use permit will go before the city council June 6.

Architect Dan Garrigan was at the planning and zoning Commission meeting Wednesday offering details of the project. He also responded to questions from commissioners.

In other business Wednesday, the commission recommended:

-- Approval of the preliminary plat of Route W No. 2 Subdivision.

-- Approval of the record plat of Melrose Place Subdivision.

-- Approval of the record plat of Stonebridge Subdivision Phase III.

-- Approval of the preliminary plat of Julie Subdivision No. 2.