ST. CLAIRSVILLE — City Council approved a zoning change Monday that will reclassify a 17.5-acre parcel on the west side of the city from office to commercial use, but not without some opposition and an unrelated disruption.

The meeting was beginning when resident Bill Brooks was observed among the guests. Council President Jim Velas called a five-minute recess and asked the attending police officer to escort Brooks out.

“While this is a public hearing, it is during a council meeting, and you are prohibited from attending council meetings at this time,” Velas said.

“So you’re saying you’re taking away my constitutional right to … ” Brooks began.

“No, sir. You just have to leave,” Velas said.

Brooks left without incident.

Afterward, Velas elaborated.

“At this point in time, there is pending legal action, so there’s no definite time when and if he’ll be allowed to come back,” Velas said. “Pending legal action involving a police investigation and a potential pending legal action over a private protection order on one of the council, so until those are resolved, I don’t know how long that’ll take.”

Velas described the reason for the ban.

“It was just his general behavior over a period of time, and then two very … improper gestures and comments to two individual council people, and that can’t be tolerated,” Velas said.

Brooks, a former mayoral and council candidate, has had numerous arguments and altercations with prior and current city leaders. He was contacted after the meeting.

“What brought me to the meeting was that I served in the United States Marine Corps to fight for our constitutional rights. I had one man say that I was no longer allowed to come to council meetings,” he said. “I feel that my rights are being violated.”

He said the ban has been in place for about two months and criticized Velas, saying the was no vote by council or any investigation related to the ban.

“I’m going to the next council meeting, and eventually I’m going to them,” he said. “… They are angry that I am giving my opinions about what they are doing and not doing. … They’re trying to kill the messenger.”

Council did unanimously approve the recommendation of the planning committee regarding the zoning change, which would allow IRC Property Management to build a Honda Power Dealership on property along National Road. Council will officially vote on passing the rezoning, and it will go into effect 30 days later.

Chris Liebers, equipment rentals, sales and supply with ICR, described the planned project at 4160 National Road and answered questions from council members. He said plans are too preliminary and subject to change to provide a timeline, but said initial intentions for use of the land is a 20,000-square-foot building and surrounding parking lot, taking up about 2-3 acres and increasing employees from the current nine at the Ohio Valley Mall location to 15-20.

Planning and Zoning Director Tom Murphy said the slope of the land might preclude some parts from development.

Several members of the public spoke, some with concerns about traffic, noise and lighting that might result from such a project, as well as questions about whether all building regulations will be followed and if the Ohio Department of Transportation would be involved.

John Pokas of 4158 National Road spoke for the majority, saying that while he is not opposed to development, he is concerned this will “open the door” to non-desirable businesses. He also said there are too many uncertainties in the preliminary plans.

“The drawings look nice, but they really don’t mean a whole lot,” he said.

“Opening up the western gateway to the city to potentially undesirable businesses takes away from the city’s appeal. With St. C. still trying to maintain city status and being precariously close to being a village, making … one of the city’s nicer areas a less desirable place to live seems counterproductive.”

Murphy said the property was annexed to the city in 2003 and there has not been serious interest in developing it for 20 years. He also pointed out the businesses that have gone into the Riesbeck’s Plaza, also at the west end of the city, and are providing income tax to the municipality.