The Biddeford City Council on Tuesday voted down a zoning change that would have allowed a Domino’s pizza business to move in across the street from Pizza by Alex.

Domino’s franchise owner Tiffani Ruszenas requested the change so she could move her business to a vacant former office building a half mile across town. The building at 118 Alfred St., just across the street from Biddeford mainstay Pizza by Alex, isn’t zoned for restaurants, even though several of the surrounding buildings are. The street is essentially split down the middle.

But councilors and surrounding businesses were wary of rezoning the property, which is in a mixed-use residential and commercial zone with businesses that primarily keep 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. office hours. They said it wouldn’t fit the character of the neighborhood, could make an already difficult traffic situation worse and that piecemeal zoning was not the right approach.

Councilors voted 7-1 against the zone change, a reversal of the 6-2 vote in favor after the first read-through in June.

Councilor Doris Ortiz said it wasn’t an issue of two competing pizza joints – she has no problem with Domino’s – but that it wasn’t the right location or the right way.

“I’m concerned about us doing this, rezoning for one business,” she said, adding that the city needs to do a comprehensive rezoning.

Councilor Scott Whiting also said he was concerned about the zoning issues, but hopes the city can help Ruszenas find a new location.

Councilor Norman Belanger, who was recused from the vote, suggested the council explore a contract zone for Domino’s rather than opening the “Pandora’s box” of rezoning the lot and risking a less ideal business in the future.

Councilor Marc Lessard was the only yes vote. The property has been sitting empty for years, he said, and the grass is getting out of control.

“It’s bordering on the (property) turning into blight,” he said. “It’s time to get it able to be used again.”

Ruszenas could not be reached Wednesday to discuss what she plans to do next.

If given the choice, she wouldn’t move at all.

Domino’s moved to its current location just four years ago. But the building is at risk of being demolished to make way for a reconfiguration and extension of Pearl Street that will create a four-way intersection at Pearl, Elm and Spruce streets.

The Maine Department of Transportation could seize the property by eminent domain in order to redo Biddeford’s Elm Street corridor.

Ruszenas said nobody told her of the plan before she bought and renovated the building at 111 Elm St.

“Somewhere along the line the ball got dropped,” she told the council Tuesday. “I would have never have built that property to start with, had it been my intention to move just four short years later, at great financial detriment to my company and my team.”

City Manager Jim Bennett said Tuesday that the intersection project is not a done deal – it is still in the design phase – but it is on the table.