Dearing Mansion bed-and-breakfast owner can stay in business, St. Paul City Council says

The Dearing Mansion bed-and-breakfast can keep hosting guests in its six lovingly restored bedrooms. It can also keep holding parties. Just not, the St. Paul City Council decided Wednesday, in the B&B part of the house.

Council Member Rebecca Noecker said she had no doubt that Scott Kramer violated the conditional-use permit that allows him to run his business in a residential neighborhood.

Noecker said she also thinks that revoking his permit would be too harsh, so she offered a compromise.

Kramer can keep his business and, just as important to hundreds of his friends, continue his epic personal parties just as long as the revelry stays out of the rooms that serve as the bed-and-breakfast.

The council voted 6-0 to approve the amended permit.

Noecker's rationale was that private homeowners are allowed to throw parties and the Dearing Mansion is, after all, his home. Yet, Kramer's conditional-use permit prohibited parties and other events from being held. "It was a little confusing," Noecker said. And, the council decided in the end, unfair.

The city's Planning Commission had revoked his conditional-use permit after Kramer hosted a murder-mystery-themed New Year's Eve party at the 241 George St. W. mansion, finding that he advertised the party as a commercial venture. Kramer admitted he's charged a fee to recover his costs. But he said he never intended for the party to be a public event and he appealed the revocation.

"I'm pleased that I can continue the bed-and-breakfast and continue to share this beautiful home with the rest of St. Paul," Kramer said after the vote.

James Walsh • 612-673-7428