Council approves rezoning for Healing House recovery ministry at 1106 St. Mary’s Boulevard

The Jefferson City Council voted to approve an ordinance rezoning 1106 St. Mary’s Boulevard from RA‑2 (high‑density residential) to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) and approved a preliminary/final PUD plan for use by The Healing House and New Beginnings, a Christ‑centered nonprofit serving women in recovery.

Lede/context: Mr. Smith, a city planner, summarized that the request is largely an adaptive reuse of an existing religious structure to permit offices, classroom space and a treatment clinic for program participants. The property will remain largely unchanged in footprint and requires the rezoning to allow the nonprofit’s proposed uses.

Public testimony: Heather Geek, founder and executive director of The Healing House and New Beginnings, described the organization’s mission to serve women recovering from substance use disorder and said the site will be used for classroom recovery support, case management and office hours several weekdays. Geek said the organization serves women already enrolled in its housing program and does not provide general public services from the site.

Council action: With no opposition raised during the public hearing, the council took a roll‑call vote; the transcript records council members answering “aye” during the roll call and the presiding officer announcing the bill passes. The planning staff said there was on‑site parking and arranged overflow parking with a nearby property owner.

What’s next: With the rezoning and preliminary PUD approved, the organization may use the existing building for the stated recovery program and proceed with any site or operational permits required by the city.