Buchanan Town Council and Planning Commission will hold back-to-back special meetings and public hearings Monday, July 16 to consider amending what constitutes an “open-air market” in the town’s zoning ordinance.

The Planning Commission meets at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall and council’s special meeting and public hearing follows at 7 p.m.

The decision to consider a change to the definition of an open-air market came last month when council decided to hold a public hearing on possibly making a change.

Two requests in May to use the Town Park for private functions— a community revival and a veterans event— led to discussions about how those events could be accommodated. Town Park policy does not allow use for large private events.

The flea market is allowed under the open-air market designation in the town zoning ordinance, but Town Attorney Jonathan Puvak and Interim Town Manager Jon Ellestad told council the proposed Buchanan Area Ministerial Association community revival and New Freedom Farm’s request to have a veterans event did not meet the criteria for that use.

Tim Young and Wally Muterspaugh had their special use permit updated to what they thought allowed “other events,” but those were not defined.

Proposed changes to the definition of open-air markets may resolve that.

— Ed McCoy