However, the request did not conform with the current zoning ordinance for the East Village redevelopment project and the council voted to deny FarmHouse’s request under the ordinance — but encouraged the fraternity to reapply when the amendment becomes active.

“It feels great — finally,” Isaac Sheppard, chairman of the fraternity’s building association said. “(It was a) long process, but we were told originally it wouldn’t be easy.”

Under the amendment, FarmHouse can apply for a special use permit that grants exceptions to fraternities and sororities in the East Village district to expand their building, provided the expansion does not increase the building size or occupancy size by more than 50 percent.

During the council member’s discussion it was stated that the amendment will take effect in 15 days.

Members of the fraternity previously had submitted a request to expand FarmHouse to make the building handicap accessible and add an additional 16 bedrooms, increasing occupancy from 44 people to 60.

Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Triplett said while he did not wish to abandon the East Village development project altogether, he was in favor of amending the ordinance to make some exceptions.

“I do think we need a reasonable accommodation to valued members of the community, such as FarmHouse, to make reasonable amendments,” he said.

However, East Lansing resident Jeffrey Hudgins, of Hudgins Realty said during the meeting he believed any amendments to the ordinance would result in the development project’s demise — but that a change was necessary.

“What’s clear and evident to me is the East Village ordinance — as it’s written — does not work for the city anymore,” he said.

Sheppard said the fraternity likely will submit an application for a special use permit over the next week, where he will wait to hear on the council’s decision.