Government doesn’t create jobs, but it sure can make it hard for entrepreneurs to create them.

Look at Lakewood as an example.

Village officials implemented several moratoriums via local laws in 2013 after a controversial proposal from an adult novelty store owner, the Larry Spacc car dealership on Fairmount Avenue and concerns from village residents about the changing nature of Fairmount Avenue. What was supposed to be a roughly six-month revamping of the zoning codes has now dragged on for nearly 18 months.

William McFadden needs to submit special-use permits for a pair of car dealerships he wants to build on Fairmount Avenue – one in the Grossman’s Bargain Outlet building and another between Tractor Supply Company and McFadden’s existing Toyota dealership. The projects would add to Lakewood’s tax base and create between 42 and 47 new jobs. McFadden can’t even file his special-use permits until the moratorium on car dealerships is resolved. Dave Wordelmann, Lakewood mayor, told McFadden during a Lakewood Village Board meeting that a new zoning district overlay would not include either property.

Thankfully, county legislators George Borrello, R-Silver Creek, and Lisa Vanstrom, R-Falconer, stepped in.

“This is important as a countywide precedent in what we want it to be, how we want to move forward, and the message we want to send to businesses looking to Chautauqua County,” Borrello, committee chairman of Chautauqua County Legislature’s Planning and Economic Development Committee, told Lakewood officials during a public hearing on the zoning code. “We often times are critical of New York state for being business unfriendly. … I’m asking Lakewood to not further make it more difficult for people to do business in New York state.”

After the public hearing, Wordelmann said he is now in favor of changing the zoning code to adapt to the addition of new car dealerships in the village’s commercial district. And the zoning code will likely be approved in sections rather than all at once, a decision that should result in passing changes much more quickly.

It is good to see some movement from Wordelmann, because Lakewood is a popular place for development in spite of the anti-business actions of village officials.