ZONE PLAN FOR COUNTY GETS REVIEW

JACKSON - The Cape Girardeau County Planning Commission will review a sixth draft of proposed zoning ordinances at a special meeting Oct. 1, which should complete their work toward county-wide zoning.

If approved by the planning commission, the measure then would be submitted to the county commission, and finally to the the public at hearings in each of the county's 10 townships.

Charles Engelhart, director of the planning commission, met briefly Thursday with the county commission to report on the plan's status.

Engelhart said he was "fairly certain" the planning commission would be prepared to recommend a zoning plan to the commission at the Oct. 1 meeting.

He said he asked the attorney general's office for a legal opinion on whether fees associated with the county-wide zoning process would have to be first approved by voters.

Under the state's Hancock Amendment, most fee increases are subject to voter approval. But recent court rulings suggest that fees levied only to recoup costs are not subject to voter approval.

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said he wanted to be sure the county had proper clarification on the fee issue. "If we have to take the fees to a vote of the people, that's what we'll do," he said.

Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander, who represents the county commission on the planning commission, said he thinks a final plan will be in a form for the county commission to consider by about Oct. 15. He also was optimistic that the planning group would act favorably at its next meeting.

"We feel that unless somebody comes up with something at that meeting we have not thought of before, I'm almost certain, that night it will be approved," said Sander.

"I think it's a pretty good overall plan. After going over it during this process, I just can't see where it isn't a feasible plan."

Two areas the planning board concentrated on were restrictions on large signs in the county and laws to protect prime farm land. Sander said he felt both issues had been resolved.

If the county commission can give its final approval by the end of October, Sander said there is a good chance the public hearings could be conducted in November.

Sander said meeting places and dates have to be determined for the hearings that will allow for the staff of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission which helped draft the zoning measures to attend.

Some zoning issues are yet to be decided. They include the size of the staff needed to implement the zoning plan, where the offices will be, and what fees would be.

"We're going to have to hurry to get it done this year," said Sander. "Finishing this year is certainly our goal, but there is a lot to do yet and we may not hit it."