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Kettering Council enacts 16-month moratorium on new fueling, convenience and small-box discount store zoning approvals
Summary
The Kettering City Council on Aug. 13 approved a 16-month moratorium on accepting zoning applications or granting approvals for vehicle fueling/recharging stations, car washes, convenience stores and small-box discount stores to allow an update of the city's future land-use plan and subsequent zoning-code changes; the measure passed with one dissenting vote.
Kettering City Council voted on Aug. 13 to impose a 16-month moratorium on accepting zoning applications and granting approvals for vehicle fueling or recharging establishments, kiosks, automobile washing establishments, convenience stores and small-box discount stores.
City staff explained the pause is intended to give the city time to update its future land use (comprehensive) plan, select consultants and then revise zoning regulations so new uses are sited and regulated to protect public health, safety and welfare. "This moratorium is being put in place to give time to update our future land use plan," a city staff member said during the council discussion, adding that the moratorium "doesn't necessarily mean that gas stations, car washes, kiosks, convenience stores, or small box discount stores won't be constructed in Kettering sometime in the future, but we're gonna take a pause while we update our plans and our zoning regulations."
Council debate included procedural questions about which nearby municipalities have used similar moratoria; staff identified Centerville and Huber Heights as recent examples. Councilmember Scott voiced concern about the policy's message to the business community, saying, "While I understand and share a little bit of concern about some of these establishments, I feel it does send the wrong message to the business community at large, so I vote no." The motion carried with one no vote and the remaining members voting yes.
The council clarified the moratorium is a temporary regulatory pause and will not bar renovations, additions or improvements to existing facilities. The next steps described by staff are selecting consulting support for the comprehensive plan update and then drafting zoning-code changes; staff did not provide a specific timeline beyond the 16-month moratorium period.
The resolution passed on Aug. 13; council signaled the zoning-code amendments and comprehensive-plan work will return to the council for public hearings and further action once consultants complete recommendations.
