Archive: News

Village of Lansing Trustees passed a new law Monday that will allow temporary commercial and non-commercial activities in the Village.  The law covers everything from sales in the Shops at Ithaca Mall parking lot to girl scout cookie tables in front of Tops.

"This local law now reflects a number of changes to the zoning law with respect to these kinds of uses," says Village Attorney David Dubow.  "The most effective part of this is a grid section that explains where these certain activities can take place and what restrictions apply to each of the activities."

The law requires a permit, which can be applied for in the Village Code Enforcement Office.  A grid section in the law is a chart of temporary commercial activities, zones where they are permitted, and time periods during which they are allowed.

Special events are allowed a maximum of 21 days, annually, over periods limited to 5 consecutive days.  The law specifies limites for carnivals, circuses, seasonal uses such as farmers markets, holiday sales, temporary outdoor sales, and stationary food vendors.

The longest period allowed is 120 days for temporary outdoor sales, which could be something like a shed sale in the mall parking lot.  The law specifically excludes accessory outdoor sales of 120 square feet or smaller, which is applicable to the current stores in the Village of Lansing.

The Village Planning Board has been considering the law for several months.  In May Shops at Ithaca Mall's Gena Speno requested an accommodation for a shed sale that is planned for the parking lot near Dick's Sporting Goods, saying that the sheds would later be moved into the former Borders space if all works well.  She said the mall would like to have more sales in the parking lot, and a law could attract more businesses to the mall and other shopping areas nearby.

The law was passed 5/0.

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