JACKSON - A Jackson realtor unable to fill his office building with tenants has sparked a firestorm of protest over his request to change the building's zoning to better suit market demands.

Gerald W. McElrath, who owns a commercial building with three offices at 810 E. Jackson Blvd., has asked that the tract be rezoned a local commercial district.

The site is east of Brennecke Chevrolet and now is zoned for professional offices and clinics.

But McElrath said he wants to capitalize on a demand for space among small retail and other businesses. The present zoning prohibits his from leasing space to small retail and commercial businesses.

But a majority of the property owners who live on Gerald Street, situated behind and adjacent to McElrath's property, object to the zoning change. They claim it will increase traffic on their residential street and diminish property values.

The board of aldermen took no action on the request following Monday's public hearing.

The Jackson Planning and Zoning Commission earlier voted 6-1 to reject the application. McElrath must now get a three-fourths majority vote of the board to override the commission's recommendation.

In other business, Mayor Paul Sander and the board of aldermen welcomed Mark Brown as he began his first day on the job as Jackson's new public works director.

The mayor and board also thanked Rich Bowen for his service as "temporary" acting city engineer. For the past three years, Bowen has worked for the city while operating his own private engineering and surveying company in Jackson

Although Bowen no longer will be city engineer, he will continue to served as a consultant for the city on several projects.

Sander also announced the appointment of himself and Alderman Jack Piepenbrok, Mark Brown, City Administrator Carl Talley, Bowen and John Lichtenegger to a committee that will monitor progress on the East Main extension project.

Other action Monday included:

-- Sander instructed Talley and Brown to prepare a five-year, capital improvements plan, to be submitted to the board by May 1.

-- Sander announced that TCI Cablevision has notified the city that Prime Time Sports Network will remain on the Jackson cable TV. It was scheduled to replaced by a pay TV channel.

"I want to thank TCI Cable for listening and responding to our requests," said Sander.

-- The board approved the Jackson Optimist Club's Youth in Government Day on Feb. 25. The event was moved up two months earlier this year at the request of the school district.

-- The board voted to change its Jan. 17 meeting to Tuesday, Jan. 18, because of the Martin Luther King holiday, and its Feb. 22 meeting to Tuesday, Feb. 23, due to President's Day.