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New signs of zoning controversy in Lisbon

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind

Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

– Five Man Electrical Band

Once again, a controversy over business signs has erupted in the village of Lisbon.

Last year, the JWB Supply ran afoul of the local zoning police when, after improvements to the store’s exterior, its flush-mount sign was rehung as a perpendicular one. After much arguing about what the owner was or was not told was permissible by the mayor, the store ultimately kept the sign.

A dispute in 2009 over an internally lighted sign outside Brian’s Barbershop on Lincoln Way landed in court where the sign’s owner won on a technicality. That controversy led the mayor at the time to create a citizens committee to overhaul the zoning code. Now, changes made during that overhaul are playing a part in the latest controversy.

Village Council will decide Monday whether perpendicular signs can be hung from the historic Hamilton Building. Last month the zoning board denied a request for a variance to allow the signs.

Appealing the zoning board’s decision is building owner Renelee Lewis, who is nearing completion of a multi-million dollar makeover of the historic structure, into an upscale restaurant and hotel.

A Lisbon native who now resides in New York City, Lewis wants permission to erect four perpendicular signs on the building – three from West Lincoln Way and one from the side across the alley from the county courthouse. Each sign advertises a different part of the restaurant.

The zoning code restricts the size of perpendicular signs to no more than 2 feet, and three of the four proposed signs exceed the size limit. The code also allows no more than one sign per building.

Lewis has already spent $18,000 to have the handcrafted wooden, gold-embossed signs made to replicate what would have been found on a business in the early 1800s, when the building originated. The signs, although illegal according to the code, are beautifully made and should blend well with the aesthetics of the historic district.

Ironically, the size limitations on signs were set at the request of Lewis’ sister, local preservationist Stevie Halverstadt, when the zoning code was overhauled after the barbershop sign controversy. Halverstadt is usually the most vocal opponent of anything that violates the historic district code, but she has been conspicuously absent from this discussion.

There’s no doubt that Lewis’ signs are bigger than they’re supposed to be. And yes, there are four signs, instead of just one. And no one is disputing the fact that Lewis should have gotten permission for the signs before having them made.

But this building, even with the illegal signs, is going to be one of the most beautiful in all of Columbiana County, not just Lisbon. And the addition of this potentially fabulous restaurant and hotel is bound to draw customers from miles away. It may violate the historic district code, but what good is a historic district if no businesses exist to attract visitors?

Perhaps Lisbon officials need to take another hard look at the zoning code and decide if the efforts to preserve history are discouraging business development. We hope village council will make another exception and allow these signs to be erected on this exceptional new business.

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