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LISBON -- A property owner wanting to open a convenience store with a drive-up window in downtown Lisbon apparently needs to seek rezoning and approval for a conditional use permit.
At least that's what he was told when he approached Lisbon Village Council members during their meeting Tuesday.
Peter Patel, who owns the property at 126 W. Lincoln Way, formerly Lincoln Social Hall located next to Columbiana County Republican Party headquarters, spoke about learning he wasn't allowed to have a drive-up window according to the zoning.
"I thought we were good to go," Patel said.
He questioned why his construction plan was stopped due to not having a village permit, but Councilwoman Melissa Hiner, who also serves as council president, told him council never approved the permit last year and the building code or zoning code changed after the first of the year.
"The drive-up window would not be allowed in the downtown," she said.
Patel stressed the need for a drive-up window and said "now I'm stuck nowhere."
Zoning Inspector Zachary Barkley said he told Patel about the upcoming change in the zoning code last year that was starting in January 2026. His plans weren't submitted until this year so they have to go through the new zoning rules.
Hiner stressed that the village wants his business which will be called Lisbon Convenient Mart.
Barkley said the alternative would be to submit a zoning change request, which would go through the village Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals, then have to come to council. If the property was rezoned, then he would have to apply for a conditional use permit for the drive-thru.
Last fall, Patel had requested a curb cut in front of the property for vehicles to reach the drive-thru window, but council rejected his initial plans, saying a left turn by westbound traffic to get to the drive-through window could hold up traffic on Lincoln Way. Council had asked him to resubmit plans to allow for entrance from the eastbound lane, requiring a right turn.
In other business, Mayor Peter Wilson informed council that the Columbiana County Park District approved a memorandum of understanding with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy for the acquisition of the Lisbon-owned cliffs property, sparking a conversation by council members on whether they wanted to sell it.
"We can't say we're going to sell it to the Western Reserve Land Conservancy. We have to put it out to bid," Hiner said.
Last fall, Wilson broke a 3-3 tie by council to proceed with the necessary steps for the village to sell the rock climbing cliffs to WRLC, which would then turn the property over to the county park district. The action gave the village solicitor Alec Beech permission to draft a resolution to allow the county land bank to act as agent on behalf of the village to handle a future sale so they wouldn't have to go through the bidding process, but Beech said the village didn't have any final agreement with the land bank. Everything kind of stopped when the park board membership changed and there was a question on whether the park board was still interested.
Councilman Jerry Cox asked about the land value. A formal offer had been made by WRLC last year of $9,500 per acre. For 41 acres, that would come to $389,500. Cox also asked what the value would be with the mineral rights. Hiner said legally, the village should put it out for bid.
"Why would you sell land that you could get mineral rights on," Police Chief Mike Abraham asked.
"If they are interested, they can contact us," Councilman Joe Morenz said.
Brody McCreight, a teen wanting to bring a skate park to Lisbon, addressed council and said the group was still working through getting the 501c3 and did say their preference for location was the property at the end of Jefferson Street.
Councilwoman Linda Donnalley asked what they needed from council, confirming all money would be raised by the skate park group. A concrete company has pledged to donate the concrete.
Someone asked a question about liability, and Hiner said if the skate park was located at Cedar Park, it would be on the village's liability coverage.
Cox said there's a lot more to it than just pouring some cement, the area would need graded and there would be other work required. Mayor Peter Wilson asked McCreight if he could check with the contractor.
In other matters, council: approved second reading for the 2027 annual appropriations, approved a heavy hauling permit to allow a village resident to drive his overweight truck on village streets to parked overnight at his property off of Caldwell, heard updates on projects related to the Willow Grove Bridge project and the Pritchard Avenue bridge project, heard an update on gas and oil leases, with Fiscal Officer Tracey Wonner noting they would have to seek bids, promoted Jamie Mattos from part-time to full-time police dispatcher, accepted the resignation of part-time police dispatcher Madeline Sekely and promoted Brad Smith from firefighter to lieutenant with the fire department.
Nothing was decided on a request from the Columbiana County Humane Society to use council chambers for a town hall meeting.
The next council meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10.