COMMISSION WILL REVIEW FINAL DRAFT OF ZONING PLAN

JACKSON - Members of the Cape Girardeau County Planning Commission will have their first opportunity Monday to review a final draft of proposed zoning ordinances they hope to put into effect by early next year.

The ordinances have been prepared by Roger Bowen, of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, in Perryville.

The process has been monitored by a subcommittee of three planning commission members and three citizens who are not members of the board.

Charles Engelhart, director of the planning commission, advised the county commission Thursday that the plan will be presented to the full planning group for the first time when it holds its monthly meeting Monday.

"Roger Bowen will bring the plan to the commission and go over it with them Monday night so they have a general understanding of it," said Engelhart. "But they will also be given copies to take home and review."

Engelhart, in response to an earlier request from the county commission to be brought up to date on the process, scheduled a meeting between Bowen and the county commissioners on Monday afternoon to discuss the plan with them.

Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said he would like to see a copy and noted that only Associate Commissioner Leonard Sander, who serves on the planning commission, is familiar with the zoning effort.

"We'd like a draft to review so that we can at least be halfway knowledgeable about it," remarked Huckstep.

Once the planning commission gives final approval to a zoning plan, public hearings must be held in each of the county's 10 townships. After input from the public hearings are taken into consideration, the planning commission will offer final approval.

Before the zoning ordinances can take effect, however, the county commission must approve the zoning plan.

Sander pointed out that the public hearings will be a time consuming process, likely to generate considerable citizen input.

"I would think that this would bring on quite a bit of interest," observed Sander, pointing out that five years ago when the county approved setback ordinances, the same public hearings were required and were well attended.

With the setback ordinances, Sander recalled that it took about 60 days to plan, schedule and hold the 10 public hearings.

Engelhart pointed out that the subcommittee is pretty much in agreement with the zoning plan, except for issues related to signs and the designation of prime farm land.

If the planning commission gives its approval soon, Engelhart said it will be possible to hold public hearings this fall. If approval comes too close to the Christmas season, Engelhart noted that hearings will likely be delayed until early next year.

Engelhart added that he is hopeful the zoning ordinances can be in effect by the time the construction season gets started next spring.

Sander said he agreed the zoning plan should be in effect by spring.