LEWISTON – New zoning rules aimed at keeping bars away from the west end of Park Street could come before councilors this summer.

City planners said they were investigating surgical zoning changes to keep bars out of the area surrounding the Oak Park Apartments, while allowing restaurants.

In the meantime, they urged councilors to renew a moratorium on new liquor licenses in the area for another six months. The current moratorium is due to expire March 2. Councilors will vote on extending it at their Feb. 19 meeting.

“We need to make sure all of the paperwork is in order for that meeting, because I don’t think we want our coverage in that area to lapse,” Councilor Tom Peter said.

Elderly residents of Oak Park Apartments began complaining about Park Street nightclub patrons late in 2006. The residents said the noisy patrons keep them up until after 2 a.m. Councilors and Planning Board members discussed the matter, finally enacting a moratorium on new liquor licenses in the vicinity of Oak Park Apartments in March 2007. They renewed that moratorium in September.

City Planner David Hediger said the Planning Board currently favors creating a rule that gives liquor licenses to restaurants but not bars. That would allow establishments like Guthrie’s Restaurant at 115 Middle St. but not another nightclub.

“The definition is for a drinking establishment, and according to zoning codes those are places that serve alcohol and prohibit minors,” Hediger said. “That’s a bar. But Guthrie’s allows minors in, so it wouldn’t count.”

Hediger said the planners also have discussed creating some financial incentives for building owners to redevelop former bars. Planning Board member Lucy Bisson said that could be in the form of a low-interest loan.

“It would be something we could do to take the bite out of having developed their properties that way,” she said.

But City Administrator Jim Bennett warned against creating that kind of incentive.

“There have been decades of history of conflicts between the residents and bars in that area,” Bennett said. “So you can’t say the owners didn’t know that going in. They chose to operate those facilities the way they did.”