LEBANON — A heated face-off between residents and business owners here ended in a temporary draw Tuesday night as City Council postponed voting on design rules for new commercial buildings.

        A majority of council members appeared to favor the proposed ordinance, but they agreed to give businesses more time to review it. A special council meeting will be held 8 p.m. Monday for the vote.

        The ordinance would detail the roof styles, architectural details and materials permitted in new retail and office buildings. For instance, only brick, wood and stone could be used on the main body of a building unless the planning commission grants an exception.

        “It puts a lot of power in the planning commission's hands and could lead to inconsistency from administration to administration,” said Chris Gattis, an official with Knauf in Lebanon.

        But the chief concern of Mr. Gattis — whose company makes polystyrene siding — and about a dozen other businessmen Tuesday was that the ordinance would hurt them and discourage new business here.

        “It's very important that you realize you need business in the community as a tax base,” said Bob Pulte, owner of a Chevrolet dealership. “... Without it you're not going to get the infrastructure.”

        Some residents disagreed.

        “People don't move here because we have a special car dealership,” resident Marianne Casimir said. “We need to have a small town that is conducive to visitors. That's where our income is.”

        Added neighbor Judy Wall: “What you have here is a bunch of men who to come to town, rape the town and go home to someplace like Mason.”

        Council members said the ordinance would not keep retailers out, nor was it meant to.

        “It may cost them a little more, but I think they'll still come,” said Councilman James Reinhard, comparing a brick Speedway gas station in Centerville with less attractive ones being built in Lebanon.

        In other business, council:

        • Approved a contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 648. It provides 3 percent pay raises each year and ends the early retirement buyout program for electric department employees.

        • Had the first reading on an ordinance that would allow political ads on the city-owned cable system. A vote is likely at the next regular meeting, April 24. Council support for the measure is tepid, however.

        • Got its first look at an ordinance that would favor local companies when the city buys supplies and services.

Lebanon cable ads debated

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