CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT ALONG ROUTE K

Page 1a council to consider proposal for development along route k...

other agenda items include a resolution opposing state and federal mandates without funds to pay for compliance...

By Jay Eastlick

Staff Writer

LD

The Cape Girardeau City Council tonight will consider a proposal for developing a tract of land in the 2800 block of William Street, east of Silver Springs Road.

The property -- once a rolling parcel of woods, but cleared early this year for possible development -- is situated between William (Route K), to the south, and Gordonville Road, to the east.

The council tonight will consider a request that the site be rezoned from single-family to multiple-family and general commercial district. It's the second time the matter has been before the council.

Some neighbors of the site had objected to the development plan, although a split city planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the request.

But then some of the neighbors got together with the Kuss family proposing the change and apparently ironed out some type of agreement that's acceptable to everyone involved.

In a letter to council members, City Planner Kent Bratton explained that the proposal has changed since it was first presented to the planning and zoning commission in July.

"This request was modified from the owners' earlier application..." Bratton said. "Upon presentation of that application to the council at your Aug. 16 meeting, it was referred back to the planning and zoning commission because of the changes proposed."

The commission again recommended the council approve the plan.

The agreement reached between William H., Rita V., Joseph R. and JoNeal G. Kuss and neighbors in the area prohibits construction of a funeral home on the tract.

The Kuss family now operates a funeral home on South Sprigg Street.

In a letter to William and Rita Kuss, realtor Thomas L. Meyer said the area is most suitable for development as "medical and general" commercial offices and apartments.

"The traffic in this area is in excess of 20,000 cars per day, and this would not be a desirable area for one-family residences," Meyer said. "The apartments are far enough removed not to be bothered with noise."

In other business, the council will consider a resolution that sends a message to state and federal lawmakers that the city's tired of expensive regulations and mandates.

The measure was discussed at the council's last meeting, Sept. 20. If approved, the resolution will be sent to the state and federal legislatures and to the Missouri Municipal League.

The resolution states that local governments are forced to comply with legislation that's often costly, "causing undue hardship and hampering local government's ability to continue to provide quality service to the citizens."

Among other things, the resolutions asserts that:

"State and federal governments should not adopt legislation requiring action by local governmental entities unless the state and federal governments also supply the source of revenue to pay the costs of compliance by local governments."

Some of the other agenda items for tonight's meeting include:

20Consideration of an ordinance to rename Red Bud Drive and Dog Wood Drive at Twin Lakes Subdivision. The subdivision recently was annexed by the city and the street names duplicate streets already in the city.

Under the proposal, Red Bud would be changed to Garnet Lane and Dog Wood to Rockport Drive.

Consideration of an amendment to the city's peace disturbance law. The Cape Girardeau Police Department recommended the change, which would bring the city's code in line with a new state statute.

In a letter to the council, Police Chief Howard Boyd Jr. said, "The new state statute is a much stronger law than the old statute. It has been the practice of the city to mirror state laws for most misdemeanor violations."

Boyd said peace disturbances are common in the city and that by mirroring the state law, violations can be heard in municipal court, freeing the state court of the burden.

Consideration of a resolution to authorize a paving contract with ASA Asphalt of Advance for improvement to Scotts Lane, Brenda Lane and the parking lot in Capaha Park.

ASA Asphalt, with a bid of $39,050, was the lowest of three bidders for the work. Other bids included: Pavement Recycling of Cape Girardeau, $46,543, and Apex Paving of Sikeston, $53,443. The engineer's estimate for the work was $52,294.