Potential redevelopment of the East Capitol Avenue area was the focus of several bills approved at Monday's Jefferson City Council meeting.
The primary effort is a plan to rezone the East Capitol Avenue area to a mixed-use zoning district and establishment of an overlay district, which would require new construction to meet architectural design requirements similar to the existing architecture in the district.
The rezoning and overlay district areas are generally located east of Adams Street, north of East High Street, south of East State Street and west of Chestnut Street.
Within the zoning code, the regulations for the Capitol Avenue Overlay District would apply only to new construction and building rehab projects. Existing buildings could be repaired and maintained in their current appearance.
It would also require a favorable vote of the Historic Preservation Commission for demolition or additions to structures more than 50 years old.
Property owners in attendance spoke in favor the bills, noting they gave the area protection needed to maintain its historic integrity.
As he had in earlier meetings, Brian Bernskoetter, of the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors, told the Council while the board favors most of what was being proposed, it has concerns some may end up being more of a burden on the property owners to keep their properties in an historically correct condition.
Despite this, the council unanimously approved the measures.
On a related note, the council approved bills that would dedicate sales tax money from Cole County and Jefferson City to improvements along Capitol Avenue.
Aplex Inc., of Linn, was the lowest bidder for the project. The final $1,537,849 cost will be shared by the city and county and is 2.7 percent under the engineers' estimate. The work will extend from Adams to Lafayette streets. Construction could start in May and possibly be done by October.
City officials said the work in the three-block corridor would include new and repaired sidewalks, curb and gutter work, new street lighting and pedestrian improvements at intersections. The plan also calls for bike lanes, passing lanes and two-lane vehicle traffic, all falling in the same street layout.
The city would pay $937,849, partially funded by the last half-cent sales tax fund for MSP redevelopment. There's also $84,567 in transit funding for things like benches at bus stops as well as bike/pedestrian enhancements in the area.
County commissioners are committing a maximum of $600,000 for the work on Capitol.
Tobacco age limit
The council also gave final approval to a bill to set the minimum age for the sale of tobacco in the Jefferson City limits to 21 instead of 18. The final vote was 6-4 with Council members Rick Mihalevich, Ken Hussey, Carlos Graham, Laura Ward, Bill Luebbert and Mark Schreiber voting in favor. Council members Jim Branch, Larry Henry, Erin Wiseman and Rick Prather voted against; Henry and Branch said they felt it was an overreach of government to get involved in this.
The bill does not prohibit the possession of tobacco and related products by those 18 and older.
For several months, supporters from both the health care and education fields have testified in favor of the proposed ordinance put forth by the Tobacco 21 campaign. The Council For Drug Free Youth also said it will have the funds for the estimated 200 signs which must be put up.
This program was first passed in Columbia in 2014, and supporters said about a third of government bodies in Missouri have implemented it since.
In Missouri, 17.1 percent of high school seniors smoke - higher than the national average of 14 percent.
Jon Alewel, owner of three Convenient Food Mart stores in the city, spoke against the measure, calling it unfair to businesses like his, because customers can already go a short distance into Callaway and Boone Counties and purchase tobacco products at cheaper price. He also said there were no consequences for those trying to purchase the products under this measure, but consequences would occur for the retailers.
Other bills approved Monday included:
A request from Capital Sand Company and other related entities owned by the Farmer family to rezone approximately 104 acres located on the south side of Mokane Road at the intersection of Hibernia Road. Company officials said they will be moving their Christy Drive asphalt plant to this site, allowing Special Olympics Missouri to build its facility at the Christy Drive location.
A request from property owners David and Nancy Jaeger on behalf of Joe Machens Capital City Ford to rezone a quarter of an acre to allow the car dealership to expand its vehicle sale display area. The property is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Southwest Boulevard and Glenwood Drive.
A request to approve an agreement to help guarantee United Airlines' profit in its first year at Columbia Regional Airport. If the airline falls short of $600,000 in revenue in its first year of flights from Columbia Regional Airport to Denver International Airport, Columbia and its community partners - including Jefferson City and Cole County - would make up the difference. Under this agreement, Jefferson City would contribute $100,000. The Cole County Commission already has approved the $50,000 the county was asked to contribute.