The former CraftWorld & Action Hobbies location is being renovated into an antique and garden shop. The city Zoning Board of Appeals approved a use and area variances for owner, Boice Lydell, earlier this month. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

A new proposed Third Street antique and garden shop will be allowed to have outside retail after receiving a use and area variance.

Earlier this month, the city Zoning Board of Appeals approved the use and area variances for Boice Lydell, who will be opening an antique and garden shop at the former Craft World & Action Hobbies location, 509 W. Third St., Jamestown.

Lydell said his shop will have antiques, candles, soaps, lamps, cast iron furniture, wicker, and annual and perennial plants. When he purchased the building three years ago, Lydell didn’t realize the district where the store is located doesn’t allow for outside sales.

According to the city zoning code, the C-R (community district) doesn’t allow for outdoor retail sales. The first district permits outside sales is the C-M (service and highway commercial) district.

Lydell said it’s integral to his business to be able to sell plants and other items outdoors. He has talked to the neighboring businesses and they are fine with him having outdoor sales. Lydell’s business shares a parking lot with Alliance Advisory Group. A representative of the business, Mark Nelson, said they don’t have a problem with Lydell’s plans. Lydell also applied for a area variance because he wants to eliminate some of the onsite parking for his outdoor sales. Nelson said there is plenty of on-street parking so that won’t impact his business either.

Stephen Sorg, zoning board member, said he doesn’t believe the use and area variance Lydell applied for is in line with the criteria points, like hardship, character of the neighborhood, unique circumstances, and not self-created, the board is supposed to use to determine if a variance should be approved. The vote for the variances was 4-3, with Sorg, Ellen DiTanto, zoning board chairwoman, and Robert Kenyon voting against the variances.

In other business, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said city officials have been working on a new application for people who want a use or area variance or a special permit. He said the new application will ask for more information from the applicant. He added each member will be given a copy of the new application and they can suggest changes if they would like.

“We want to ensure the application you receive is complete and answers the questions you have,” Sundquist said.