Cape P&Z recommends rezoning for planned hospital expansion

Rezoning commercial property on Broadway for a $15 million expansion of Southeast Missouri Hospital won approval from Cape Girardeau's Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday night.

Commissioners recommended the city council rezone the 4.6-acre tract in the 1700 block of Broadway from C-1, local commercial district, to C-3, central business district, to allow construction of a four-story medical office building and an adjacent parking garage.

Dan Berry, director of legal affairs for the hospital, told the commission that the rest of the hospital campus is already zoned C-3.

Berry said the medical office building on the south side of Broadway will overlook the city's Capaha Park. "It's a pretty location," he said at a public hearing on the zoning request. No one appeared in opposition to the project.

Rhodes plans

Commissioners also recommended the city council approve plans by JJP Investments, a real estate holding company for Rhodes 101 Stop convenience stores, to construct a new corporate office and warehouse at 1610 N. Kingshighway.

The commission recommended the council grant a special-use permit for the facility, which will include a 3,500-square-foot office and an attached 3,000-square-foot warehouse to serve the Rhodes 101 convenience stores.

The commission action followed a public hearing in which no one appeared in opposition to the revised plan.

Commissioners turned down the company's request last month to rezone neighboring property at 1629 Kingsway Drive for the building project after residents objected to it.

Jeff Maurer, vice president of business development for Rhodes 101, said revised plans don't include the Kingsway tract.

The council is scheduled to take up both the hospital zoning request and the Rhodes permit at the July 7 meeting.

In other action, the commission:

Approved plans for widening and upgrading Bloomfield Road from Siemers Drive to the entrance to Stonebridge Subdivision.

Tabled action on a record plat of Kinder Lynwood Townhouses No. 1 in the 2700 block of Lynwood Hills. Commissioners said the lot sizes were smaller than the required 7,000 square feet needed to meet city zoning requirements.

Approved the record plat of Eugene's Addition at 500 Vincent's Park Drive.

Approved the record plat of Heather's Subdivision in the 200 block of Country Club Drive.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123