Commission approves conditional use for Chevrolet dealership expansion, with paving variance tabled

The Johnstown planning commission approved a conditional‑use permit allowing an existing new and used auto dealership to expand showroom and service facilities at 755 West Coshocton Street. Staff framed the application as an expansion of a long‑established use within the GCC‑2 commercial district and recommended approval of the conditional use with conditions related to landscaping, access and review if variances are denied.

"This is an existing use, but there's been some updates to that. ... This is a conditional use permit," a city staffer explained while walking commissioners through the packet and code criteria. (speaker 10)

Applicant counsel Aaron Underhill told the commission the dealership has occupied the site for decades and argued the proposed expansion responds to growing service demand; resident Jeff Barr spoke in support, noting the business's history and the project's potential to add jobs. The commission approved the conditional‑use motion with conditions 1 and 3 recommended by staff.

The conditional use was linked to four separate variance requests: reduced building setbacks (variance A), reduced pavement setbacks (variance B), increased lot coverage (variance C) and a request to keep existing gravel rather than paving (variance D). The commission approved variances A–C after debate; variance D (paving) was tabled to allow staff, the owner and applicant to work on possible mitigation or compromise language. Commissioners cited stormwater, precedent and public‑nuisance concerns in the paving discussion and asked the applicant to return with options such as porous pavement, targeted paving, or conditions tied to nuisance complaints.