ZONING IN COUNTY IS PROGRESSING

JACKSON - A subcommittee of the Cape Girardeau County Planning Commission will take another look at proposed map and zoning ordinances Tuesday, and likely will recommend final changes before the plan is sent to the full planning commission.

The subcommittee, composed of three members of the planning commission and three other people, has been working closely with staff of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, which was hired by the Cape Girardeau County Commission to help draft a plan for countywide zoning.

Charles Engelhart, director of the county planning commission, said he anticipates the subcommittee will give the plan a final look next week, and then have the entire commission review it at its next monthly meeting on Aug. 19.

"This will actually be the third draft, but the first time the full group has had a chance to study it," said Engelhart. About the same time, he said that the plan likely will be shared with members of the county commission, which ultimately have the final word on adopting the plan.

"It really doesn't make any difference what we decide unless the county commission is happy with the plan and their concerns are addressed," said Engelhart.

The director said he is unsure when the planning commission will give final approval to the zoning plan. He said the approval process is lengthy because once a final preliminary plan is approved, the commission must conduct a public hearing in each of the county's 10 townships to seek input.

After the hearings, the county commission will make any changes it believes are needed, and then can give final approval, putting it into effect.

Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander, who represents the county commission on the planning board, said he hopes to hold the hearings this fall. But he agreed with Engelhart that unless hearings can start by early fall, with the Christmas holiday season approaching, it might be necessary to hold them after the first of the year.

"It is going to rush things to get done this fall, but it is possible," said Sander. "There are a lot of things to take into consideration."

Engelhart said it would be nice to finish this year but, "My real goal is to get this in operation by early spring before the building season starts."

Even after the ordinances are approved to establish countywide zoning, Sander and Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said the county commission still has a lot of things to consider.

Enforcing the zoning ordinances will likely require the county to hire a full-time planning director and possibly some other staff. Presently, Engelhart's position is part time.

Another consideration will be whether to charge fees for building permits in the county, and, if so, prices.

The county commission has expressed some hope that fees could generate enough revenue to cover the increased costs that will be incurred due to zoning.

Both Engelhart and Sander said they are optimistic that residents of the county recognize the need for zoning to insure orderly growth and development in parts of Cape County that are not incorporated.

In 1972, voters in Cape County approved the formation of a planning commission to draft a master plan as one of the first steps in the process of moving toward zoning. The master plan was approved in 1975.

Since then, the county commission has approved regulations for subdivisions and mobile home parks and setback ordinances.