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Pictured are artist renderings of potential pay-for-parking signs, as well as suggested placement, in the Frontier House parking lot in Lewiston. Last month, Premium Parking's Erik Reed explained, "We wish to stack two signs on a single post in three spots. The combo would be a payment sign and notice to (Frontier House) customers that they do not have to pay for parking and will be validated inside. This will reduce any confusion for (Frontier House) customers and reduces the amount of posts that need to be installed around the lot." (Images courtesy of Premium Parking)

ZBA grants Frontier House pay-for parking signs variance

by jmaloni

Fri, May 1st 2026 08:00 am

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

The Village of Lewiston Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously Tuesday to approve Ellicott Development’s variance request for pay-parking signs inside the Frontier House parking lot at 460 Center St.

Per municipal code, the signs should each be 2 square feet. Ellicott Development received a variance to place up to eight 4-square-foot signs around the perimeter and at entry and exit points. Signs will be placed on poles, with some back to back and others top-bottom.

Ellicott Development has commissioned Premium Parking to install black-and-white signs designed to explain parking is for Frontier House tenants (who can have their parking validated). Those who wish to park and not patronize the historic building’s merchant will be asked to pay a nominal hourly rate, and can scan a posted QR code to make payment.

Building employees and upper-level renters will be “white-listed” and not charged to park.

“There’s other options they have, that I think are a lot less distracting,” ZBA member James Spanbauer said. “They could put a (2-square-foot) sign on every parking spot and we don’t even have to approve that. So, I think doing this is much less conspicuous. I think it goes better with everything else. The signs are interior to the parking lot – not on the street.”

ZBA member Bart Klettke added, “I don't think it detracts from the historic nature of the building itself. It’s a parking lot; it’s got pavement; it’s got yellow lines.”

Last month, the ZBA tabled the sign request as it sought guidance on whether or not it can issue a time-limited variance. Specifically, board members pondered granting a sign variance for six months and then revisiting the markers’ aesthetics.

The village brought this question to the New York Conference of Mayors. NYCOM informed the municipality a time-limited variance is permitted, but with a better rationale – like a merchant going out of business in six months. NYCOM reportedly didn’t think reevaluating the Frontier House signs after the summer season to reconsider curb appeal would pass muster.