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LISBON --Village council will soon consider changing the zoning code, the first of what may be many changes sought by Mayor Joe Morenz as part of his plan to revitalize the downtown business district.
Morenz reported at last week's council meeting that the board of zoning appeals (BZA) is recommending a new zoning law be enacted requiring business signs be removed for several reasons, one of them being if the business has been closed for at least two months. No such zoning law is currently on the books.
Since becoming mayor in 2016, Morenz has made reviving the downtown one of his chief goals, and council agreed as part of that plan to join with the Lisbon Area Chamber of Commerce in hiring Town Center Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in revitalizing small-town business districts.
A recent survey performed by TCA found that of the 21 commercial storefronts currently vacant in downtown Lisbon, none were listed for rent or for sale. Vacant storefronts left to fall into disrepair are a drag on the downtown and the entire community, and TCA intends to help landlords find tenant or buyers.
TCA is to also draft legislation for council to enact that will require landlords make an effort to fill their vacant storefronts and buildings, and the sign ordinance being proposed would be part of the overall plan.
As part of that effort, Morenz has been trying to schedule monthly BZA meetings for the purpose of reviewing the village zoning code, with an eye on making recommended changes that will fit with TCA's revitalization plan. Attendance at these meetings has been sporadic, which is why council -- at Morenz's request -- replaced three BZA members in January.
Morenz said the reconstituted BZA met for the first time last month, which resulted in the sign recommendation. "It was a great meeting, and we're getting things done," he said.
This sparked a debate among council about whether the BZA had the authority to make policy recommendations, noting its first duty is to hear appeals when someone's request for a zoning permit is denied by the zoning inspector. Morenz agreed, but he said the BZA also has the authority to review the code and make recommendations. Council member Cheryl Mills, who served on the BZA for years, said Morenz was correct.
New BZA member Peter Wilson, who was in attendance, said he learned the zoning inspector had found no violations in the past four years, "which I found hard to believe."
Morenz said they will need a more active zoning inspector for the downtown revitalization efforts to have any impact. "One of things Town Center Associates want us to do is better zoning enforcement because right now we have no enforcement," he said.
Legislation to add the new sign removal ordinance is expected to be introduced at a future council meeting, but Morenz said afterwards he may wait until they compile a complete list of zoning changes they want made before bringing them to council. He said this would result in one public hearing and save money on required legal advertisement costs.
tgiambroni@mojonews.com