SPOT ZONING REQUEST FINDS ZERO SUPPORT

A request to move an insurance company to a residential part of town never even had the chance for a vote Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting.

Every ordinance requires a motion to be called for a vote. No council members made that motion and the ordinance died.

The ordinance would have granted Robison Insurance Agency, 353 Christine, a permit to move their business to 1511 Bloomfield Street, a residential area.

"As a body, we feel that neighborhoods should stay intact," said councilman Melvin Gateley.

Glynn Robison, owner of Robison Insurance, refused to comment.

Gateley said the council denied the permit to prevent spot zoning and preserve the residential areas in town. Spot zoning is the process of approving limited commercial zoning in a residential district.

Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman R.J. McKinney said the Bloomfield Street is not equipped for commercial traffic.

"The street is not designed for heavy traffic," McKinney said. "It is too narrow of a street, and there is no parking."

The council also voted to allow Gary Garner, owner of Gary's Car and Truck Sales and Al Bisher, owner of Motorsports Unlimited, to put in a concrete road on Walnut Street.

Normally the city requires commercial roads to be 40 feet wide to allow parking on both sides. But because there are only two businesses sharing the cost of constructing the road and there is plenty of parking, the city is allowing them to build a road 24 feet wide.

Councilman Frank Stoffregen said it is about time something was done to the road.

"It's been an eyesore to Cape Girardeau for a long time," Stoffregen said. "It is really great that these people are taking it upon themselves to get it done."

Cape Girardeau City Council Agenda

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 6

City Hall

Public Hearings

-- A request of Summit Enterprises, L.L.C. and Howard G. Kinder, Sr. and Betty J. Kinder to rezone Lots 1,2,3,4,14,15,16 and 17 of Second Amended Plat of Lynwood Hills Estate from R-1 Single Family Residential district to R-3, Two-Family Residential District.

-- A request of Glynn Robison and Denise Robison for a Special Use Permit for an insurance agency office at 1511 Bloomfield Street in an R-2 Single Family Residential District.

-- Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding truck parking regulations.

Consent Ordinance

-- An ordinance accepting the record plat for Aquamsi Bluff Townhouses. Second and third readings.

-- An ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into and accept an Easement Agreement with Union Electric for the Sanitary Sewer Improvement Program-Lift Stations and Force Main Project. Second and Third readings.

New Ordinances

-- An ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances by changing the zoning of part of Lynwood Hills Drive from R-1 to R-3. First reading.

-- An ordinance granting a Special Use Permit to Glynn Robison and Denise Robison for an insurance agency office in a residence at 1511 Bloomfield Street in an R-2 Single Family Residential District.

-- An ordinance amending the City Code relating to parking, stopping or standing of trucks or commercial motor vehicles. First Reading.

-- An ordinance amending the City Code relating to truck parking regulations. First reading.

-- An ordinance amending the City Code relating to commercial vehicles in parks. First reading.

-- An ordinance amending the City Code establishing a handicapped parking space on Sunset Boulevard. First Reading.

-- An ordinance appropriating funds for contingency, public works, general capital improvement, internal services, public safety, parks and recreation, hazard mitigation, general fund transfers, administrative services and developmental services. First reading.

-- An ordinance authorizing the acquisition of property for the widening of Mt. Auburn Road between Independence and William Streets and improvements to the Independence Street and Mt. Auburn Road Intersection. First reading.

Resolutions

-- A resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Southeast Missouri Stone Company for dirt removal from quarry property to be used in a firearms range. Reading and passage.

-- A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the Safe House for Women, Inc. for emergency shelter grant funds from Missouri Department of Social Services. Reading and Passage.

-- A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with the Salvation Army for an emergency shelter grant funds from the Missouri Department of Social Services. Reading and passage.

-- A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an addendum to an engineering services contract with Koehler Engineering and Land Surveying, Inc. for the Mt. Auburn Corridor Waterline Project. Reading and passage.

-- A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with ASA Asphalt, Inc. for the 99-2 Street Overlay Program. Reading and passage.

Other

-- A motion to reimburse the developer of Randol Farms 11th Subdivision for the cost of increasing the width of Abbey and Kenneth Streets from the standard 30 feet to 36 feet amounting to $15,045.

-- A motion to accept the petition and grant a variance for the Walnut Street Improvement.

-- A motion approving improvement plans in the Vernon Rhodes Subdivision.