By By Liora Engel Sentinel Staff

Copyright keenesentinel

WESTMORELAND — The beloved inflatable ice cream cone on Route 12 is back after the town’s zoning board granted an exception Wednesday that allowed for its return, business owner Matt Lilly said Thursday.

The 20-foot cone became the topic of a social media outcry earlier this month after the town’s planning board determined the inflatable violated town ordinance. This led Lilly, who co-owns Jingles Christmas Shop, Fatman’s Table and the Westmoreland General Store, to remove it.

The ordinance limits the size of signs, and the cone was too big, according to meeting minutes from August. Lilly, whose business serves ice cream out of a window, said foot traffic dwindled after he removed the inflatable.

Under Westmoreland ordinances, a sign is any device or structure that communicates a message to the public, be it visually or with words.

But on Wednesday night, the town’s zoning board granted an exception that allows Lilly to have the cone on his businesses’ lawn.

Lilly, who put the cone back on Thursday morning, said he is pleased with the decision.

“I was overjoyed, it was awesome,” he added.

Zoning board Chair Peter Remy declined to comment, referring all questions on the matter to Selectboard Chair John Snowdon, who was not immediately available to discuss the matter Thursday.

On Facebook Wednesday night, Lilly thanked his vocal supporters, who he said showed up to the meeting and spoke in favor of the cone on Facebook.

“The General Store is feeling really loved,” he wrote. “All the time, energy and effort feels like it is well received and defended. Thank you …”

Lilly said the cone is more than an advertisement for ice cream. It brings foot traffic to the store. It also brings people joy.

“It’s fun,” he added. “People need a little fun and smiles in their life, and that’s what we do.”