1st Ward candidates tackle HCJ issues

There are 125 historic buildings located in the 1st Ward of Jefferson City.

With less than a week before the municipal elections and with many current city issues dealing with historic preservation, the Historic City of Jefferson conducted a candidate forum in the contested City Council race in that ward.

Incumbent Jim Branch faces a challenge from David Kemna.

The two men took questions for about an hour Tuesday night at City Hall on a variety of historic preservation topics.

Among the issues was redevelopment of the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) property. Branch said the city should only get involved in infrastructure matters such as street and sewer construction.

"We don't have the expertise when it comes to things like hotels or convention centers that could possibly be built there," he said.

"I'm excited about the opportunities," Kemna said. "I want to look at all ways to support development."

On the matter of rehabilitating structures on Capitol Avenue, Kemna said he had no particular ideas but talked with some of the young professionals in the area about what they would like to see done.

"I want to see how we can make these structures safe and get them as close to code as possible," Branch said. "Due to the age of many of these structures, I think you have to make some allowances."

When asked what the city should do to alert property owners about changes that could alter the use of the property, Kemna suggested town hall meetings as a way to get the word out.

"There has to be something set up to show the uses of the area either when they move in or for those who are already living there," he said.

Asked what infrastructure needs should be addressed on the city's East Side, Branch said he felt stormwater was at the top and was something all areas of the city are having to deal with.

"I would say 90 percent of the calls I get are about stormwater," he said. "I don't like more taxes, but I think that's what it will take to help us deal with this."

Another issue was the Capitol Avenue Overlay District.

The Jefferson City Planning and Zoning Commission has sent to the City Council a plan to rezone the East Capitol Avenue area to a mixed-use zoning district and establishment of an overlay district requiring 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.

Asked their thoughts on this, Kemna said, "I think we need strong codes so people know what they need to follow. It will help up maintain the area as we see it today."

"I'm in favor of mixed use in the area," Branch said. "I would hope that we have a plan that would help maintain the integrity of the area."