After Pawn Shop Set for Southside, Huntington Planning Commission Recommends zoning Changes for Pawnshops, Firearms Dealers

Currently, the city has eight shops in the city limits. Five are in highway commercial districts, two in the central business district and one in a neighborhood commercial zone.

At a prior planning commission meeting members heard a report that although they sell retail goods , pawn shops have a semblance to a bank. They also bring high crime adjacent or nearby the venues.

The ordinance will place pawn and gun dealers as two different types of business. As proposed, either would require a special permit to locate in a residential neighborhood commercial district. A hearing would be required and a non-confirming use permit issued on a case by case basis.

Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, a member of the planning commission, discussed the importance of neighborhood entrepreneurial activity to encourage investment at the March planning commission meeting.

However, he acknowledged that pawn shops become magnets for criminal activity as , for instance, drug users in a never ending cycle, fence goods.

WSAZ learned that the proposed pawn shop will be accompanied by a bakery and hundreds of thousands of dollars in structural renovations by the owner of Davis's Place.

At that March meeting discussion included how long a vacant business structure holding a non confirming use permit could retain that 'special exception?'  Would it retain the commercial use two or three years after having been inactive? Would the business have to be identical to the one that had closed? These questions were contemplated so it would be easier to move into a long time vacant building, yet, in the words of council member and planning commission member Gary Bunn "not disturb neighborhood" continuity.

An ordinance requires two readings with the public hearing and vote on the second reading, unless , for instance, a significant amendment occurs. It's highly likely the new pawn shop proposed would not be impacted by the ordinance.

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