A zoning referendum that narrowly failed in Brookfield by 169 votes in the fall won't be back on the ballot in the spring, Brookfield Township Zoning Commission members said at a meeting Thursday night.

"We have seen a groundswell of support to get it back on the ballot," commission Chairman Chris O'Brien said. "We don't want to rush into it and miss it by a couple of votes."

The hot-button issue was on the ballot several times in the past two decades. It was always soundly defeated but the gap narrowed each time in recent years.

According to the Trumbull County Board of Elections, zoning has been on the ballot four times since 1982. In June of that year, only 35 percent of voters cast ballots for zoning.

The percentage in favor of zoning has steadily increased since then: 38 percent in November 1985 and 41 percent in May 1992.

The recent election was the closest, with 1,507, or 47 percent, for zoning and 1,683 against.

The commission has decided to use the time until the fall election to educate voters, concentrating on districts that voted against zoning.

"Mainly what we want to do is to get the map straightened up. It wasn't the clearest map in the world and people had reservations," O'Brien said. "We are going to get more input from people who are on the fence, see where there reservations are."

He also discussed the recent blasting on state Route 7 by City Stone Products, and a dumping ground around Brookfield Avenue that has residents complaining.

"Everyday, someone new gets bit on the butt by lack of zoning. Trustees get constant calls about junk cars," O'Brien said. "Without zoning, the trustees' hands are tied."