PUBLIC HEARINGS ON COUNTY ZONING ARE SET

JACKSON - Final plans have been made for 10 public hearings on a proposed county zoning ordinance.

The hearings will be conducted in each of Cape Girardeau County's 10 townships, and will be held from Jan. 6 to Feb. 5.

Charles Engelhart, administrator of the Cape Girardeau County Planning Commission, said Thursday he had no idea what kind of turnout to expect at the hearings.

He said turnout at the first meeting, planned for 7:30 p.m., Jan. 6 at the Hanover Lutheran Church Parish Hall in Cape Girardeau, should indicate what to expect at future meetings.

"This no doubt will be an interesting phase of zoning ordinance development," said Engelhart.

The county planning commission has discussed zoning for several years, and a contract was signed Nov. 30, 1989 by the Cape County Commission and the Southeast Regional Planning Commission to develop a zoning law.

A zoning sub-committee worked closely with the regional planning commission as it prepared the law and attempted to provide an acceptable document.

Engelhart praised the work of the subcommittee. Members of the group included planning board members Marvin Ludwig, Clyde Quade, and Earl Siemers and citizens Ken Eftink, Alfred Limbaugh and Glenda Quinn.

"Much credit goes to this committee, which volunteered many, many hours of long hard study," said Engelhart.

The group met 14 times, with most of the meeting lasting three to four hours.

The sub-committee presented its final draft of the ordinance to the planning commission, which approved the measure several weeks ago.

When the hearings are completed, possible changes will be considered before the measure will be submitted to the county commission for final approval.

Engelhart said the county has gradually moved toward the need for zoning because of increased development in out-county areas.

The 1990 census recorded the population in the unincorporated areas of Cape Girardeau County at 16,628. The census also reported that in the past three years, there have been nearly 300 new homes built in the out-county area.

Engelhart is urging citizens to attend the public hearings to learn about the proposed ordinance.

"We know that zoning is controversial, but the need for guided growth in Cape County is here, and this ordinance will provide the necessary direction," he said.

Copies of the zoning ordinance and map can be studied at the planning commission office in the county administration building in Jackson. Copies also can be purchased.

Each meeting will be hosted by the planning commission member from the township where its held. All the hearings will begin at 7:30 p.m., and Engelhart and Roger Bolin, from the regional planning commission will attend each meeting.

The date, township, location, and host of each hearing is as follows:

Jan. 6, Randol Township, Hanover Parish Hall, Elmer Palisch;

Jan. 9, Shawnee Township, Fruitland Fire Station, Milton Haertling;

Jan. 13, Apple Creek, Oak Ridge High School, Marvin Ludwig;

Jan. 16, Byrd Township, Cape County Administration Building, Glen Birk;

Jan. 21, Whitewater Township, Millersville Fire Station, Gene Peterman;

Jan. 24, Kinder Township, Burfordville School, Rudy Nussbaum;

Jan. 27, Liberty Township, Bethlehem Baptist Church in Crump, the planning commission seat from there is vacant;

Jan. 29, Hubble Township, Gordonville Fire Station, Clyde Quade;

Feb. 4, Cape Township, Cape County North Park Conservation Building, Earl Siemers;

Feb. 5, Welch Township, Vo-Ag Building at Delta High School, Eugene Eftink.