AUGUST VOTE PROPOSED FOR CAPE COUNTY P&Z PLAN

Voters in Cape Girardeau County could face a county planning and zoning proposal in August.

Officials had hoped to put a proposal on the April ballot but said too much work remains.

In fact, the final plan hasn't been drafted. A 10-member commission has been meeting since December 1996 to draft a county planning and zoning proposal.

"Essentially we have walked through most of the zoning ordinances," said John Dudley, chairman of the committee.

A series of maps showing existing land use throughout the county are being drawn by the Regional Planning Commission in Perryville and the county mapping department.

"They are helping to find existing uses of land and what the future usage will be," Dudley said.

That process takes time.

When the plan is complete, it will be presented to the county commission for its consideration. From there, the plan will be presented in public meetings in each of the county's 10 townships.

"We had been planning on voting on that in April," said Gerald Jones, presiding county commissioner, "but they feel they cannot get it together in time for an April vote, especially with all the meetings that have to be held."

Ballot measures must be placed on the ballot 10 weeks before the vote.

"We might have been able to make it, but there was some uncertainty," Jones said. "I don't have any doubt about an August vote."

County planning and zoning has proved controversial in the past. In 1992, voters rejected a proposed countywide master plan, scrapping the 20-year-old planning commission in the process. Opponents feared the plan as written would have resulted in over-regulation.

"We are not trying to force anyone into a situation where they can't develop their property or use their property," Dudley said, "but people have to have regulation. It's as much of a protection as a hindrance."

The committee won't propose a building code, Dudley explained.

"Mainly we are talking about general usage of the land," he said. "That does entail regulations."

The committee has heard from subdivision developers, mobile home manufacturers, property owners and many others on diverse topics ranging from odors to piping.

"We are concerned about areas that might be annexed into the cities," Dudley said. "Those buildings were built with no regulations, property owners may need to pay a lot of money to bring structures up to city standards. We are looking for a way to plan ahead."