JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Some members of the Jefferson City planning and zoning commission are not on board with rezoning a building that the Jefferson City Room at the Inn would use to expand its homeless shelter and create a new day room. The board voted 4-3 on Thursday not to recommend the zoning change to the city council. "We have probably spent the whole weekend just kind of licking our wounds," RATI Chair Sarah Hamilton said Sunday. RATI leadership is considering buying a building on 107 Adam St. that would have a day center on the bottom floor for people experiencing homelessness to spend time and set goals to get back on their feet. It would also have laundry facilities and showers. The second floor would be the overnight shelter with 30 beds, which is 10 more than RATI's current space at the First Baptist Church, located at 301 E. Capitol Ave. However, the building needs to be rezoned before RATI can purchase it for $500,000 and make about $500,000 in renovations, Hamilton said. The city council will have the final decision on whether the building can be rezoned at the Aug. 3 council meeting. Planning and zoning commissioner Bunnie Trickey Cotten, who voted in support of RATI, said the council isn't required to follow the commission's recommendation. "The city council often does not take our recommendation and this is definitely one time I hope they do not take our recommendation," Cotten said. Hamilton said there was no explanation for why the commission voted the way it did, especially after over 53 people sent in letters of support, compared to 17 community members against the zoning change. "Nobody wants a homeless shelter in their backyard and we understand that, but that doesn't make the problem go away and that doesn't help the folks who are in need of help," Hamilton said. People opposed to the shelter are worried that it will cause harm to the people who live on East Capitol Avenue and put time into revitalizing it, Hamilton said. RATI hasn't given up hope on the proposed building, and Hamilton said the nonprofit will look at other buildings to rezone if the council turns down the Adams Street proposal. If it is approved, RATI can move forward with fundraising for a down payment. They already have $200,000 saved up. Regardless of the council's decision, the emergency shelter will stay at the First Baptist Church for the winter while renovations happen. The post Jefferson City’s Room at the Inn faces a roadblock to new homeless shelter expansion appeared first on ABC17NEWS. ...read more read less