LOWVILLE — The new Lewis County Board of Elections office is one step away from resolution of a zoning issue that is delaying completion of proposed improvements and security upgrades.

The town and village Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday deemed a use variance application by St. Peter's Catholic Church complete and set a public hearing for 6 p.m. Sept. 8. The variance would allow business offices to be placed in the church's former school on Shady Avenue, even though the building is in a residential zone in which that is not an allowed use.

The board voted 3-0 on the matter, with ZBA Chairman William J. Burke abstaining due to his position as a county legislator.

If approved at the next meeting, the variance would be in effect for two years, giving village officials time to consider whether to make a permanent zoning change. Village officials soon plan to review their zoning map and make changes as deemed necessary.

The county in late June moved the elections office from the old county courthouse on North State Street into the former school. The move allowed courthouse renovations to begin in earnest and provided more adequate space for the county's 24 new handicapped-accessible voting machines.

However, the town and village code enforcement office last month issued a stop-work order because the intended use did not comply with local zoning regulations.

School-related activities are an accepted use in an R-9 zone, but office space is not. And while a municipally owned building would typically be exempt from such restrictions, the former school is still held by a private owner, the church.

In the application, church officials noted that the former school can't reasonably be used for residential purposes and that current zoning limits the number of organizations that could utilize space in the building. They added that lease agreements, like the one with the county, help to offset significant heating and maintenance costs for the building.

Town and village Code Enforcement Officer Charles W. Stevens did not attend the meeting. However, by letter, he informed ZBA members that business offices are already allowed on part of the church property, located in a R-OF zone, and on several nearby properties.