AUBURN – A split vote doomed a plan to put more zoning decisions in staff hands.

The zoning change, which would have let small businesses expand uses that don’t match zoning codes, was able to get three yes votes, short of the five needed to pass.

Amendment backer Jim McPhee said he hopes councilors will consider similar changes in the future.

Current zoning codes require businesses that don’t conform to zoning codes go before the Planning Board if they hope to expand – adding a second floor, for example. That can cost as much as $1,800 in city fees and engineering expenses.

McPhee’s amendment would let those businesses ask city staff for approval for expansions of less than 25 percent of existing square footage.