HERMANN – Faced with a divided Board of Aldermen, Mayor Bruce Cox Monday night cast the deciding vote to reject a proposed rezoning of a parcel on East 2nd Street that would have allowed development of another guesthouse in the city’s Historic District.

Andrea Sullivan of Franklin County had applied for the rezoning of the property located in the 100 block of East 2nd Street. The previous owner of the structure had obtained a Conditional Use Permit to renovate the residence into a guesthouse, but did not complete renovations within the timeframe set forth in the permit. Sullivan purchased the property with the intent to complete the renovations and operate a guesthouse.

The Planning & Zoning Commission last month recommended approval of the rezoning of the property from Residential to Commercial. The primary argument for the proposed rezoning is that surrounding properties also have a Commercial designation.

But during the Board of Aldermen public hearing on the proposal, it was noted that development would be better if done under the provisions of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). A CUP would allow the city to better regulate what could be done with the property than would a change in zoning.

Jon Held spoke to the BOA and said he understands Sullivan to be a nice person, but, he added, “You don’t change zoning because someone’s nice.” He went on to say he sees the effort to reclassify the property as “clearly an attempt to do an end-run” around the city’s prohibition of new guesthouses in most parts of the city.

However, Held posed the prospect that seemed to generate initial interest among the aldermen after the vote was taken — consider allowing new guesthouses in Commercial-1 areas, such as in the Historic District.

“I like the idea,” the mayor said.

Just minutes earlier he cast the deciding vote to reject the proposed rezoning. Alderman Dolores Grannemann offered the motion to approve the change and was supported by Alderman Chad Walton. Aldermen Jim Schirmer and Ash Geers opposed the zoning change. Before casting his vote, Cox referred to the argument that redevelopment of the property would be better done under a CUP.

“I am more in favor of that, instead of (reclassifying the property as Commercial).

The city’s prohibition on new guesthouse development in most of the city’s zoning districts, adopted two years ago, was in response largely to the population loss seen in the county seat municipality after more than 100 single-family homes were convert into guesthouses — mostly owner-unoccupied structures — during the past 10 to 15 years. Permits for guesthouses existing at the time of the prohibition can be renewed.

Hermann Fire Company Chief Kevin Speckhals formally asked the aldermen for city support in purchasing fire hydrant adapters. The board was supportive of the request but asked the chief to obtain bids and present them to the city.

“You get some bids and bring them back to us,” said Schirmer.

The BOA approved a motion to make the purchase after city administrators determine the best bid.

In other matters, the BOA confirmed the promotion of Jasoln Pruessner to foreman of the Gas/Water/Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department. The board also hired Craig Doerr as a technician in the Gas/Water/Wastewater Division.