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Lennox council asks staff to research annexation cases and to task planning commission with Main Street zoning review
Summary
Council directed staff to identify properties receiving city water/sewer without annexation and asked planning and zoning to study Main Street zoning and vacancy‑prevention measures; members emphasized research and stakeholder outreach rather than immediate enforcement.
Council added two new business items for study: (1) annexation of properties receiving city water and sewer that lie outside corporate limits, and (2) a review of property use and zoning along Main Street from Highway 44 to Boynton Avenue with the planning and zoning commission.
Staff said identifying affected properties "wouldn't take much" and noted affected parcels are already billed for services. Councilors discussed annexation pathways (owner petition vs. annexation study) and asked staff to research which parcels receive services and whether those properties are being billed. "If there is a property that's outside of city limits today that's receiving city water, are they receiving it for free?" a councilor asked; staff replied they are billed.
On Main Street zoning, councilors referenced ordinances used in neighboring towns to discourage long‑term vacant storefronts and discussed incentive and vacancy ordinances as tools to encourage active business fronts while stressing fairness to existing property owners. Staff emphasized the conversation is exploratory and not an immediate regulatory change: the recommendation was to send the topic to planning and zoning for study and stakeholder engagement.
Next steps: staff will compile a list of affected parcels for council review and forward the Main Street zoning concept to the planning and zoning commission for research and community input.
