After the suicide, I think the Council should have immediately reconsidered the issue and granted the variance.
I wonder if he still would have killed himself if the numbers were different - but still not in his favor.
For example, the final vote was 5-7, which is pretty close (why did they have an even number voting, which could have very easily resulted in a tie?) but what if the final vote was 0-12 or 1-11.
He may not have acted so rash if MORE were against him, which would be a bit ironic.
The closeness of the vote may have been especially painful.
I bet they will if a friend or associate of the counsel buys up the property at estate sale prices.