The Gahanna Planning Commission voted Sept. 10 to grant a conditional-use permit for a trade-contractor use at 254 West Johnstown Road, allowing Trujillo Quality Concrete to operate office functions from an existing building, and added a condition specifically prohibiting any future outdoor storage of materials on the property.

Planning staff described the site (Parcel ID 025-000908) as an existing office building with a large paved/gravel yard to the rear. The property is zoned General Commercial, where trade contractors are permitted only as a conditional use. The applicant, Marcus Trujillo, told the commission he intends to use the existing building as office space and may later construct a roughly 2,100-square-foot garage to store equipment and materials; that future structure would be subject to administrative review if under 5,000 square feet.

Staff recommended approval with an explicit condition to prohibit outdoor storage; commissioners agreed and added that prohibition as an amendment before voting on the full conditional-use permit. Commissioners and staff clarified that in General Commercial zoning, outdoor storage of materials is prohibited regardless of screening, and that any vehicles or equipment that remain on-site must be parked on a sealed surface.

Trujillo told commissioners he currently operates one crew and anticipates using the rear area for employee and truck parking; he confirmed the business intends to house equipment inside a future building rather than leaving machinery or material piles outdoors. Planning staff advised that paved parking will be required for vehicles stored on site and noted that minor development plans (structures under 5,000 sq ft) are reviewed administratively; any variances required for such a plan would return to the commission.

Commissioners also discussed property history: planning staff said the parcel had prior code-enforcement activity in 2023 related to parking and site use by the then-owner; staff said those matters were resolved. The commission’s amendment to the conditional-use approval — prohibiting outdoor material storage — passed on a roll-call vote. The full conditional-use motion as amended then passed by unanimous roll call.