By Liz Oakes
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LOVELAND - The defeat at the polls of a controversial zoning amendment left the future of the 85-acre historic White Pillars estate up in the air Thursday.

Voters in Hamilton, Warren and Clermont counties, which the city straddles, rejected a measure, 58 percent to 42 percent, in Tuesday's primary that would have allowed commercial development on the property.

The city revamped its zoning code almost two years ago so a project including offices, retail, single-family homes and condominiums could be built on the site.

The amendment led to the referendum on whether land of at least 5 acres could be zoned commercial even in a residential area.

The defeat means that the commercial portion of the project cannot be built without some other zoning change, said City Manager Fred Enderle.

The developer, Hines-Griffin, told the city Wednesday it was weighing its options on the land, Enderle said.

Hines-Griffin officials were unavailable for comment.

The developer can't close on the $3.4 million deal to buy the land from the city because it can't get a loan until a lawsuit over the city's zoning of the property is settled, Enderle said.

The lawsuit, brought by resident David Miller and Councilman Paul Elliott, is on appeal.

Miller, a member of Voice of the Electorate, a group that opposed the zoning amendment, said the organization plans to hold public meetings next month on the future of the Paxton-Ramsey estate.

Miller said his group wants to find out what residents want the property to become.

"We can't walk away from this election and assume anything," Miller said. "Do people want to save (the estate) forever for their children? ... We want the community pulse right now."

E-mail loakes@enquirer.com