GOVERNMENT: PLANNING PANEL TAKES STANCE ON SIZE OF LOTS

OAK RIDGE, Mo. -- At the four previous public hearings on Cape Girardeau County's proposed planning and zoning measure, one of the most frequently criticized parts of the plan was a regulation to restrict septic systems in an agricultural zone to lots three acres and larger. Some people complained they want the right to give a member of their family a one-acre lot to build on.

Tuesday, Cape Girardeau County's temporary planning committee announced it now favors a much less restrictive rule.

At a hearing on the proposed county planning and zoning measure at Oak Ridge High School Tuesday, chairman John Dudley said no minimum lot size has been agreed upon but that one-half acre is a possible figure.

Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department, said the committee's previous adherence to the three-acre minimum was due to a misunderstanding on her part of what the committee was advocating.

"The three-acre suggestion was a misinterpretation of the statute," she said.

The committee reportedly has debated the lot-size and septic-system issues for months. Its position now is that some smaller lots could support septic systems while others could not, depending on the topography. Under the plan, the septic system serving a lot three acres or less would have to pass county and state inspections.

About 60 people turned out for the hearing, the next-to-last to be held before county voters decide in November whether to adopt planning and zoning in unincorporated areas of the county. The final hearing will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at North Elementary School in Fruitland.

The criticism of the planning and zoning measure Tuesday night was sometimes vehement and sarcastic. A number of speakers were concerned the county commission could change the plan once it's voted in, and one wondered whether the commission's "buddies" would be appointed to the formal planning and zoning commission.

Doug Flannery, a candidate for First District commissioner, contended state laws govern the potential problems county planning and zoning is being advanced to address, such as the location of trailer parks, junk yards and nuisances.

Others echoed the belief county planning and zoning is unneeded.

"We're already too regulated," said Darrell Schuette. "We don't need your help to run things out here."

Tim Cook contended that nobody was interested in how county land was used until it started becoming valuable.

The committee was accused of trying to sell the measure in vote-rich Jackson and Cape Girardeau by making presentations before various civic groups. Roger Arnzen, director of mapping and appraisal for the county, said the presentations were made at the request of the organizations.

Jeff Hahs, a contractor Oak Ridge school board member, supported the temporary planning committee's work.