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Planning commission recommends broad zoning-code changes to city council, including EV-charging and Creek Side review criteria
Summary
The commission voted to recommend CC-00001-2026 — a package of zoning-code amendments — to city council. Changes include updated EV-charging standards (EV-ready vs EVSSE), restoring certain buffering/screening rules, adding funeral services to the use table, clarifying temporary sign prohibitions, and new evaluation criteria for Creek Side Mixed-Use (CMU) deviations.
The Gahanna Planning Commission voted on March 11 to recommend a comprehensive set of amendments to Part 11 of the city codified ordinances (CC-00001-2026) and to forward the package to city council.
Director of Planning Michael Blackford presented the package as a mix of restored prior-code language, clarifying revisions, and new provisions. Restored provisions include buffering and screening standards and certain sign prohibitions (including language to prohibit attention-getting devices that do not display copy). Clarifications include adding definitions and use-table entries (for example, EV charging and funeral services) carried forward from the prior code. One substantive change proposes lowering accessory-structure side-yard stepback in R1 from 10 feet to 5 feet to align with other residential districts; staff presented that change as a response to frequent variance requests.
A key new element proposed is revised EV-charging language that distinguishes EV-ready stalls (wiring and conduit but no charging equipment) from fully operational EV supply equipment (EVSSE). Under the proposed approach, a development that provides EVSSE may count each charger for more than one required EV space (e.g., fully equipped spaces can count double toward required totals), thereby reducing the number of individual chargers required while incentivizing fully functioning chargers.
Staff also proposed new evaluation criteria for the Creek Side Mixed-Use (CMU) district so planning commission and staff can evaluate requests for deviations (a form of variance) against the objectives of the land-use and strategic plans. The change is intended to give review bodies discretion to weigh plan goals (for example, vertical mix of uses, diverse housing types, public gathering spaces) in deciding whether a deviation furthers community objectives.
Commissioners asked about temporary signage enforcement, material standards (including how newer vinyl and composite products are treated), the practical application of EV requirements across different parking types, and precedent risks from relaxing setback requirements. Staff said variances remain available and that the deviation process would be evaluated on how projects further plan goals. After extended Q&A, the commission voted to recommend the package to council.
