STREET REVIEW PLANNED; MASTER PLAN MIGHT UNDERGO REVISION

New westward expansion of the city and continued development in north Cape Girardeau has prompted a review of the city's long-range master streets plan.

The Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday will conduct a special study session to review the plan comprised of major street projects for the next 20 years and possibly recommend changes.

City Planner Kent Bratton said Wednesday the plan was last updated less than two years ago when the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department established the corridor for a new Mississippi River bride route through south Cape. But, he said, development since then might justify new priorities in the street plan.

"The planning commission just felt it was time to sit down and review the plan and possibly make some changes," Bratton said.

"The major street plan is a long-range plan, and with an active planning program like we have, those things need to be reviewed periodically and revised if necessary."

Since the new major street plan was approved in 1991, property west of Interstate 55 on Route K has been annexed for the Walmart Supercenter and a future Sam's store.

A tract of land south of the site, along Bloomfield Road, also was recently annexed, and the city this week received a petition from property owners in Twin Lakes subdivision off Hopper Road north of Route K who also want to be annexed into Cape Girardeau.

Bratton said the state highway department is expected to award the first construction contract on the new bridge route later this year, and the first section of Lexington Avenue, from Kingshighway to Perryville Road, will open this month.

By reviewing the master streets plan, the city will be able to ensure that completion of those projects is coordinated with the start of new, related plans.

"It's a tool for coordination," Bratton said. "It lets developers know ahead of time what's going to be anticipated. At least they're not operating in a vacuum."

Charles Haubold, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, said it's important for the commission as a citizen advisory board to review the street plan in light of development and completion of other street and infrastructure improvements.

"There are so many things going on, and one thing that I guess sort of bottlenecks you is when you can't start a couple of projects until you finish one," Haubold said. "For example, Lexington. Once you get Lexington done, then you've got the north Sprigg extension, then Perryville Road; two or three mushroom out of one project."

Haubold said the master street plan allows developers, contractors and home buyers to better gauge the most appropriate sites for building.

"Not only that, but the school district needs that type of information when planning for new schools and redistricting," he said. "It's very important, and it's very important to keep traffic moving in Cape."

Bratton said he doesn't expect big changes in the street plan, but the meeting next week could generate some recommendations for the city's five-year capital improvements program, which includes street projects.

"I don't see any significant changes," he said. "I don't know of anything in terms of development that would cause major changes in the street plan. We went through it pretty thoroughly the last time.

"We're coming up to end the year, so we'll be starting the capital improvements process shortly," Bratton added. "We need to review the major street plan to see if there are recommendations for any changes."

The city's first major streets plan was adopted in 1967-68, Bratton said, and revised in 1975. It remained unchanged until 1987, when it was again changed, and, four years later it was updated again.

Bratton said he wished all the projects in the plan could be completed, but he realizes that's likely too lofty a goal, particularly with tax revenues down.

"You always would like to have the projects yesterday," he added. "But I don't think you want to build those things ahead of development. In most cases, it has to proceed along with development. It's like running a business: You don't make large capital investment unless it's justified."

Bratton said future development likely will mean new streets west of I-55, and an "outer belt" north of the city to connect with Route W and Mt. Auburn Road to the west, Highway 177 to the east and the new bridge route to the south.

But the plan also includes upgrades of existing thoroughfares in the city's older sections of town.

"I think you're going to see a general improvement in most areas of the city," Bratton said. "I'm reasonably confident we're going to see some reconstruction on some of the major thoroughfares in the city."

Bratton said widening of Broadway to the east is needed, and other similar projects will be completed as funding is available.

He said a transportation tax to fund the street improvements is something that's been considered by the city for years. Such a measure would have to be approved by voters, though, and the city planner said there are no immediate plans to seek the tax.

"That's something that has always been discussed as a way to fund street improvements," he said. "But we don't have anything on the table now."