LEWISTON – If there’s a solution to conflicts between elderly downtown residents and raucous bar-goers, it’s probably not city zoning codes, according to Planning Board Chairman Jeffrey Gosselin.

The board didn’t have any answers Monday and put the matter off until its next meeting on Jan. 8.

“At that meeting, we will try to recommend a change to the City Council,” Gosselin said. “It might have something to do with increased police. I don’t know what it will be, but I don’t think it’s in the city zoning codes.”

Elderly residents of the Oak Park apartments complain that bar patrons leaving two Park Street clubs for the night make too much noise as they walk to their cars in the Oak Street parking garage. Oak Park residents complain noisy patrons keep them up until after 2 a.m.

Councilors listened to their complaints at a meeting in November and referred the matter to the Planning Board. At least one councilor, Ward 1’s Lillian O’Brien, said she favors changing zoning rules so bars are no longer allowed along Park Street, between Main and Maple streets.

Two existing bars – Club Adrenalin and The Blue Elephant – would continue to operate unless they lose their liquor licenses. That’s significant to Planning Board member Tom Peters.

“Even if we rezone, that won’t change how much sleep you get at night,” Peters said. He recommended increasing police patrols and working with club owners.

“I don’t think hurting any business is the right idea,” he said.

Oak Park residents at Monday’s meeting didn’t seem happy with the delay, however.

“What is more important, the health of 108 people or the existence of these two bars?” asked Norm Marcoux, an Oak Park resident. “Who goes to these places, anyway? Nothing but riff-raff.”

Club Adrenalin owner Carmine Cartonio disputed that. His spot is a high class, exclusive nightclub that has no problems with police. The problems begin when patrons leave the controlled environment of his club.

The controversy has already started to hurt his business, he said.

“They are labeling an entire street as bad and it’s not the case,” he said. “People hear about it and think it must be worse than it is, because of all this publicity. It’s not helping Park Street, and it’s not very good for Lewiston.”