Planning commission denies extension for gravel parking lot at 1 Church; applicant's request for 12-month variance fails on tie vote

The Gahanna Planning Commission declined to extend the authorization for an existing gravel parking lot at 817 North Hamilton Road (the site of 1 Church) after a motion to grant a 12-month variance ended in a tie.

Staff described the history of repeated applications and enforcement actions at the site. Planning staff said a gravel lot was installed in October 2023 without city approval; an earlier variance and design review approved in June 2024 expired Dec. 31, 2024, so a new application was required. Staff recommended disapproval of the current application, citing high visibility from Hamilton Road, the fact that gravel is not a hard surface as required by code, and that the site still violated multiple code sections.

Brent Allen, director of operations at 1 Church, and lead pastor Greg Ford told commissioners the church needs temporary off-street capacity to avoid unsafe street crossings. Ford said the church currently parks about 60 to 100 people in the gravel lot per service during three weekend services and that the church submitted a full site plan in August that the church expected to move to construction in 2025. “We are ready to get something in front of you here, in February and hopefully be able to get all of that moving and have the construction site moving,” Pastor Greg Ford said.

Neighbors and condominium representatives urged more screening and completion of promised mitigation work. Pete Ferguson, president of Castle Pines Condominiums, thanked the church for installing a privacy fence in one area but asked the church and city to re-evaluate existing plantings and consider additional fence or natural screening for other building faces.

Commissioner Mako moved to approve a 12-month extension for the gravel lot; Commissioner Shepaca seconded. The roll call recorded three votes in favor (Mako, Shepaca, Tamarkin), three votes against (Poillier, Greenberg, Hicks) and one abstention by Seriano, producing a tie. Under commission rules the motion failed on the tie, and the extension was not granted.

Staff and several commissioners noted the church has not demonstrated timely adherence to prior timelines for converting the lot to a permanent, hard-surfaced configuration. Church representatives said they plan to return with a full site plan in February or March and are continuing neighborhood outreach to address screening and other concerns.

Because the extension was denied, the gravel lot remains nonconforming and subject to code enforcement and removal unless the applicant obtains a subsequent approval or revises plans to meet city requirements.