Orderly growth

The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission has started what is likely to be a lengthy discussion of planning for subdivisions outside the city but likely to be annexed sometime in the future. The city is interested in making sure subdivisions have adequate streets, sewers and water lines.

Parts of what the P&Z commissioners will be looking at aren't all that new. The city has worked with subdivision developers in the past, even providing city services in return for an agreement to be annexed in the future.

This latest round of discussions is due, in part, to the fact that a city the size of Cape Girardeau in a first-class county -- which Cape Girardeau County is -- is permitted by state law to adopt what is called peripheral zoning within a two-mile radius of the city limits. This means the city can pick and choose areas that are likely to be annexed.

The city expects it will take some time to sort all of this out through the P&Z process. Any plan developed by the city is likely to emphasize planning rather than zoning. And the county commission would have to hold a public hearing and adopt the city's proposal before any planning provisions would go into effect.

All of that process offers many opportunities for anyone interested to have a say. This would be the time to speak up.

But before speaking, understand what's happening. The city is looking for an orderly transition for future annexation, particularly of subdivisions. In the past, there have been instances where the city has annexed areas only to be faced with major capital expenses to bring essential services up to snuff. The city also is looking for a collaborative plan that deals with many of the concerns property owners outside the city might have. And the city isn't looking to impose zoning regulations on every piece of property within a two-mile radius of the city, because not all of that area is likely to be annexed any time soon.

As Cape Girardeau continues to grow, it needs to expand its boundaries. With major development anticipated north of the city, particularly around the new East Main Street-LaSalle Avenue interchange on I-55 between Cape Girardeau and Jackson and along the interstate, it is prudent to consider ways to make that growth orderly.