LIBERTY — Improving the township’s appearance has been a goal for officials, and a resolution passed Monday intends to push them a bit closer to it.

Trustees approved declaring a six-month moratorium on the acceptance, processing and approval of motor vehicle and vehicle-related use zoning in the township.

The moratorium prohibits the township’s zoning inspector, board of zoning appeals or any other township body or official from accepting, processing or approving an application that would authorize the establishment, expansion or construction of used motor sales, vehicle storage lots, repair or service facilities, and fuel-dispensing facilities.

The resolution also prohibits junk yards, scrap or scrap-processing facilities and tire storage, disposal or recycling facilities.

The resolution states the moratorium is intended to “preserve the status quo” and allow the township’s zoning commission and trustees time to review, study and amend the zoning code regulating covered uses, which includes location, design standards and environmental impacts.

The moratorium will not apply to any covered use that was lawfully established as of its effective date, assuming the use isn’t expanded beyond the existing footprint, capacity and scope of operation.

The zoning commission is to prepare and submit written recommendations to the zoning board regarding proposed amendments, which are to address changes to use classification, conditional use standards and development standards at a minimum upon completion of their review.

Law Director Cherry Poteet said junkyards, scrapyards and tire storage facilities are already prohibited under the township’s zoning code.

“Technically, they’re only prohibited in the industrial areas, so we don’t want them in the other areas, so we’re putting that on until that gets straightened out,” Poteet said.

Regarding repair facilities, Poteet said there’s been some concern about their most appropriate location.

“You have quite a few of them in the township, and the request is that the zoning commission study that and come back with the recommendation,” Poteet said.

Logan Arms Drive resident Steve Stoyak thanked trustees for the moratorium during the meeting’s public comments session, noting he was pleased to see the resolution on the agenda.

“Everyone knows (it) has been a large topic of conversation in these meetings — I’ve heard numerous people talk about it,” Stoyak said. “And then in the recent Beautify Belmont meeting that I went to that was sponsored by the trustees, I heard that comment half a dozen times — how can we beautify Belmont (Avenue) when it’s all used car lots and oil change places?”