South Pasadena : Bed and Breakfast Ruling

City planning commissioners have voted again to adopt an ordinance allowing historic houses in neighborhoods of single-family homes to be bed and breakfast establishments.

The Planning Commission and City Council passed the bed and breakfast ordinance earlier this year. But last month the City Council sent the ordinance back to the commissioners because Planning Commissioner Leslie Hoffelt had a conflict of interest when she voted for it in February.

Under state law, Hoffelt, an architect, should not have voted because she received more than $250 in the previous 12 months for work on a bed and breakfast, City Atty. Edward Lee said.

The Planning Commission voted 4 to 0 Monday for the ordinance. Hoffelt was absent. The measure goes back to the council for a vote Oct. 6.

The conflict of interest was revealed by opponents of Russell and Leonore Butcher’s plans to turn the top floor of their 105-year-old mansion into a bed and breakfast. Opponents told the city attorney last month that Hoffelt had remodeled a bathroom for the Butchers’ bed and breakfast.