The tent sales that have been held at Decker Sporting Goods Inc. in Fort Dodge for 26 years will be allowed to continue, although in a different location, following action by the city’s Board of Adjustment Tuesday evening.

The board granted permission for the sales to resume in one tent to be located on the west side of the store’s building at 3012 Fifth Ave. S.

That action resolves complaints that prompted city officials to issue a zoning violation notice to the company in June.

Jacquelyn Arthur, a Mason City attorney representing Decker Sporting Goods Inc. and C & L Investment, which owns the Fifth Avenue South property, said the business owners would have preferred to have the tent sales in their traditional location in front of the building. However, she said they would accept the plan to place them on the west side.

”We would rather have a tent than no tent,” she told the board members moments before they voted on the matter.

Decker Sporting Goods was established in Mason City in 1954. Its Fort Dodge store opened in 1988, and the first tent sale was held in 1989.

”Tent sales are an integral part of their business model,” Arthur said. ”The tent sales allow this small, locally owned retailer to compete with the big box stores.”

She said that in June 2011, the city government granted C & L Investment an easement specifically allowing it to place tent stakes on publicly owned right-of-way along Fifth Avenue South.

Arthur acknowledged that the tent being used for the sales has deteriorated. She said it will be replaced.

Maggie Carlin, the associate city planner, said the city staff received multiple complaints from area property owners regarding the location and condition of the tent.

On June 24, Carlin sent a zoning violation notice to C & L Investment. In that notice, she wrote that the tent used for the sale covers parking spaces that are required by the zoning rules for the Fifth Avenue South corridor of commerce.

She told Board of Adjustment members Tuesday that the tent cannot be located in a required off-street parking area.

Arthur filed an appeal with the Board of Adjustment on July 13.

The board took two separate actions regarding the tent sale situation.

First, it voted to uphold the zoning violation notice issued by Carlin.

Then it approved a special exception allowing the tent sales to be held on the west side of the building if the following conditions are met:

• The tent must be inspected by Building Official Troy Brandt and Assistant Fire Chief Doug Ostbloom, who is the city fire marshal.

• Only one tent can be used.

• The tent is to be placed farther back from the street than the building.

• The tent is to be kept in good condition.

• The tent sales are to be limited to 18 weeks or any other time frame approved by the City Council.

• Permits must be obtained for any temporary signs.

Board members Troy Anderson, Steve Hoesel and J.P. Mansfield voted in favor of upholding the zoning violation notice and to grant the special exception.

Board member Jeanne Gibson was absent and there is one vacancy on the panel.