The Village of Suttons Bay Zoning Board of Appeals last week held its first meeting since March 2008 at the request of village zoning administrator Steve Patmore, who was seeking clarification of certain zoning ordinance provisions.

Patmore said the ZBA had not met in nearly two years primarily because of a lack of new construction activity in the village and few projects under way for which builders might seek variances from the zoning ordinance. Patmore said he asked the ZBA to meet on Feb. 25 to provide interpretations of zoning ordinance provisions related to bed-and-breakfast operations in the village.

The zoning administrator said the village’s zoning ordinance is unclear whether a bed-and-breakfast bedroom can be located in an “accessory structure” as defined by the zoning ordinance. The ZBA’s answer was “yes,” Patmore said.

The second question was whether a bed-and-breakfast bedroom can be located in an accessory structure if the structure is a legal “non-conforming” structure as defined by the zoning ordinance. The ZBA’s answer was “no,” Patmore said.

“There was ambiguity in the ordinance and we needed to clarify some conflicting provisions,” Patmore explained. “Now, we need to take some of these issues to the village Planning Commission to consider a zoning ordinance amendment.”