The St. Louis City Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee voted to forward do-pass recommendations for Janine Vaughn and Jim Dallas to the Board of Adjustment after a committee discussion on their neighborhood experience and civic service.

The Board of Adjustment hears appeals from zoning and building decisions and can grant variances when petitioners demonstrate undue hardship, Mary Hart Burton, Zoning Administrator in the Building Division, told the committee: "The Board of Adjustment is charged with hearing each individual case and deciding if they present a hardship or an unnecessary difficulty that would merit them receiving a variance from the zoning code." The committee moved and recorded support and a do-pass recommendation for both nominees.

Alderman Autumn Aldridge, who nominated Vaughn, described her neighborhood activism and work on the city's land-use planning process. Alderman Aldridge said Vaughn "went beyond her way to . . . make sure that all voices was heard" in Hyde Park and neighboring areas, and recommended her for the board because of that neighborhood engagement. Vaughn said she founded the Hyde Park Community Collaborative in 2023 and that serving on the Board of Adjustment would let her continue community advocacy: "When I get involved in things, I find out how they work. And then I, grow in my knowledge and my understanding, and I do the best work that I could possibly do," she told the committee.

Alderman Aldridge also introduced Jim Dallas, a Soulard resident and former Soulard Restoration Group president who described leading a successful expansion of the Soulard Special Improvement District. Dallas said his volunteer work and business background inform his interest in the Board of Adjustment: "As an actuary, my first starting point will be what's the code say? What does the regulation say?" he said, adding that he would seek staff guidance but also weigh neighborhood impacts when cases come before the board.

Committee members asked both nominees about balancing neighborhood input with zoning code requirements. Vaughn emphasized community engagement and said neighborhood residents know their places best: "A very collaborative approach, but a very engaging approach is very important," she said. Dallas said he would start with the code and then "step back and take a bigger picture" to understand how decisions affect neighborhoods.

The committee recorded its support and will present the two nominees to the full Board of Aldermen for final confirmation. The committee noted there are three vacancies on the Board of Adjustment and that the mayor's office and civic participation staff are helping recruit diverse candidates from impacted neighborhoods.

The committee also clarified that, by ordinance, the Board of Adjustment must include a licensed architect and a licensed real estate agent among appointees. Staff said the mayor's office has been coordinating applications and that appointed members must take an oath of office before serving.

The committee did not take additional formal action beyond the do-pass recommendations and expect to forward both nominations to the full council on Friday.