Construction could begin on a new grocery store in Cape Girardeau sometime this year, said a representative of Piggly Wiggly Mid-South Inc.

The grocery chain asked the city's Planning and Zoning Commission Wednesday for approval to rezone a 10.76 acre tract along North Kingshighway.

The tract had been zoned for general business and single family residential, but the store requested a general business district zoning.

The rezoning request was a measure to create a consistent zoning for the entire plot at 1800 N. Kingshighway.

John Small, who represented Piggly Wiggly Mid-South Inc. at the meeting, said the owner plans to start construction later this year but is waiting to see how the new Wal-mart store in Jackson would affect business.

The commission unanimously approved the request. It still needs the approval of the City Council.

The commission also approved special use permit requests for George E. and Patricia A. Bockhorst Jr. to build a storage complex in the 1600 block of Kingsway Drive and for the Cape Girardeau school district for construction projects at Charles Clippard and Alma Schrader Schools.

Steve Del Vecchio, business manager for the school district, said the work could begin as early as June 3 if furniture is moved out of the classrooms then.

The district is adding a cafeteria at Clippard School and classrooms and a cafeteria at Alma Schrader School.

The work is similar to the project completed at Jefferson Elementary School earlier in the year.

Work on a driveway at Clippard could begin before June and won't disrupt classrooms, Del Vecchio said.

However, the city council would have to approve an emergency reading for the special use permit for the school district, said R.J. McKinney, commission chairman.

Items approved at Wednesday's meeting aren't scheduled for council review until June 7.