The Sandusky Planning Commission on Aug. 27 approved a site‑plan application permitting a commercial marina and rental operation at 343–349 Anderson Annex while requiring the owner to retain the property’s off‑street parking capacity and meet other standard permits and conditions.

The action responded to an application submitted by Firelands Jet Ski Bridal for a reservation‑only rental operation that proposes three jet skis and one jet boat and a portable restroom placed on adjacent private property with the owner’s consent. The applicant told the commission bookings are handled through a third‑party platform and customers arrive only by prior reservation.

Staff said the property is zoned Commercial Recreation and that a marina land use is permitted in that district. Planning staff said the Ohio Building Code does not treat the floating docks and similar structures as buildings that would trigger a certificate of occupancy, and therefore standard building‑code restroom requirements do not automatically apply. The staff presentation cited consultation with the Erie County Health Department and the Ohio Revised Code and noted the sanitation company must submit sewage‑disposal reports to the county health department for monitoring.

Staff recommended approval with conditions after describing the operation and its expected impacts. The applicant’s operating season was stated as reservation‑only from May 31 to Aug. 31, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting. Staff estimated the busiest single‑day scenario (all four watercraft rented continuously for a 12‑hour period) could generate up to 16 vehicle trips over the day and said the operation’s booking model and staggered departures make it likely that fewer than four vehicles would need parking at any one time. The applicant said large groups are directed to Battery Park public lot or are shuttled by the operator to reduce neighborhood parking pressure.

Tom Thomas, the applicant, described use of the FairHarbor booking platform to verify operators’ credentials and accept waivers before customers arrive. Thomas said he has operated equipment from the site recreationally and began commercial operations on June 1, 2025. He said the portable restroom was located in a non‑drivable strip of leased property and that he is willing to add screening if neighbors request it.

Planning commissioners expressed a range of concerns and views during a lengthy discussion. Several commissioners noted the narrowness of Anderson Annex and that the site provides enough land to meet the technical parking minimum (roughly three spaces) even if the layout is impractical; others said long standing, seasonal on‑street use and the business’s prior operation without major complaints argued for approval with the rights retained to revisit the matter if it becomes a nuisance. One commissioner unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to require screening of the portable restroom; that amendment failed for lack of a second.

Pete McGorry moved to approve the site plan while not waiving the parking requirement, with the motion to include standard staff conditions and the stipulation that the owner return to the commission if increased traffic is determined to be problematic. The motion was seconded and the commission approved the application.

The approval requires the applicant to obtain all applicable permits from the building and engineering departments and other agencies. The commission’s action preserved city oversight: if on‑street parking or traffic congestion becomes a demonstrated problem, the property owner must return to the commission to formalize alternative arrangements.

Planning staff said they will monitor complaints through code compliance and that the city retains authority to require sanitary maintenance of portable restrooms.

The commission’s decision formalizes the operation while keeping a clear path for future review if neighborhood impacts escalate.