OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Gahanna Planning Commission Organizational & Regular Meeting - January 14, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Wednesday, February 11, 2026
BodyGahanna, Ohio
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, February 11, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 51:56

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay.

0:00

Uh good evening, everyone, and welcome to the 2026 organizational meeting for the uh City of Gehana Planning Commission.

0:07

Uh I am Mayor Laurie Jadwin, and the reason I'm sitting in this seat, you don't usually see me sitting here for these meetings, uh, is because this is the organizational meeting.

0:16

I am tasked with running this meeting until a new chair is elected for the planning commission.

0:20

Uh but before we get to the official order of business and officially beginning the organizational meeting, we have some administrative matters uh to take care of, which include administering the oath of office to two of our members who have been reappointed.

0:33

So I would invite uh Elizabeth Laser and Michael Tamarkin to please join me up here in front of the flagside by side.

0:44

All right, I'll say I repeat your name, you go first and then you know, and then we can say repeat together.

0:50

All right, please you raise your right hands, repeat after me.

0:52

I Elizabeth Laser, Michael Tamarkin.

0:55

Do solemnly swear that I will support and defend.

1:01

The constitution and laws of the United States of America.

1:06

The United States of America.

1:07

The Constitution and Statutes.

1:11

Of the state of Ohio.

1:14

And the charter and ordinances in the charter and ordinances of the city of Gehana.

1:19

The city of New York.

1:20

And then I will faithfully, honestly, honestly, and impartially.

1:26

And impartially.

1:27

Discharge the duties.

1:28

Discharge the duties.

1:29

As a planning commission member.

1:31

As a planning commission member.

1:33

For the city of Gehana.

1:34

For the city of Gehana.

1:36

To which I have been appointed.

1:39

So help me God.

1:39

So help me.

1:40

Congratulations and thank you.

1:42

Thank you.

1:42

Thank you for your service.

1:43

Thank you.

1:43

Appreciate that.

1:44

Elizabeth, sorry.

1:46

Sign both those ones for you.

1:47

And once you get to sit for you, all right.

1:55

Madam Clerk, we will now officially call the meeting to order.

1:58

I'll do that just to be official.

1:59

And I don't ever get a chance to do that, so I'm gonna do it here.

2:02

Uh our first official oh wait, Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

2:07

Greenberg.

2:08

Here.

2:08

Laser, here.

2:10

Mako.

2:10

Here.

2:11

Pollier.

2:11

Here, Chapaka.

2:13

Absent.

2:14

Suriano.

2:15

Here.

2:16

Tamarkin.

2:17

Here.

2:19

With that, our first order of business is the election of a chair for 2026.

2:24

I now open the floor to nominations for chair.

2:26

Do I hear any nominations?

2:30

Don't mayor, I'll make a nomination uh to appoint Sarah Pollier as chair of the Planning Commission for 2026.

2:37

Thank you, Mr.

2:37

Tamarkin.

2:38

Ms.

2:38

Paulier, do you accept that nomination?

2:40

Yes, I do, thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use████████████████████████████████████36%
Procedural███████████████████████████████31%
Economic Development████████████12%
Education██████████10%
Public Engagement████████8%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Gahanna Planning Commission Organizational & Regular Meeting - January 14, 2026

The Gahanna Planning Commission held its organizational meeting at 6:33 PM, followed immediately by a regular meeting at 6:38 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting, published on January 9, 2026, included the swearing-in of two commissioners, election of leadership, approval of a 2026 meeting schedule, consideration of two variance applications, adoption of updated rules of procedure, and reports from city officials on major projects. The meeting adjourned at 7:23 PM.

Oaths of Office

  • Mayor Laurie A. Jadwin administered oaths to Elizabeth Laser and Michael Tamarkin, each appointed to three-year terms ending December 31, 2028.

Organizational Business

  • Election of Chair: Michael Tamarkin nominated Sarah Pollyea; elected unanimously (6-0, Shapaka absent). Vote: Greenberg moved, Mako seconded.
  • Election of Vice Chair: Michael Greenberg nominated Michael Suriano; elected unanimously (6-0, Shapaka absent). Vote: Greenberg moved, Tamarkin seconded.
  • Meeting Schedule: Chair Pollyea set regular meetings for the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM, except November (first Wednesday due to Veterans Day). Commissioner Laser expressed preference for 7:00 PM but deferred to the majority.
  • Council Liaison: Chair Pollyea appointed Elizabeth Laser as Council Liaison; Laser accepted.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (12.3.2025): Motion by Suriano, seconded by Tamarkin; approved unanimously (6-0, Shapaka absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • V-0001-2026 (4171 Clotts Road): Ben Workman (266 Colony Court), owner of Arrow Fence contractor, corrected the staff report: the six-foot privacy fence does not extend past the front of the house; the split-rail fence is a three-rail, not four-rail. He stated the homeowner is willing to consider a 42-inch fence to meet code; the primary goal is a dog enclosure.
  • V-0002-2026 (52 Price Road): Applicant Barbara Rogers (462 Hamilton Court) confirmed demolition of house and garage, existence of well and septic (being addressed), and plan to tie into city water and sanitary sewer. She noted a sanitary sewer easement and floodplain prevent a horizontal split.

Discussion Items

  • V-0001-2026 – Variance for Fence: City Planner Maddie Capka presented the request to vary Sections 1109.05(e)(1)(A)/(D) to allow a four-foot split-rail fence (48 inches vs. code 42 inches) fully in the front yard and a six-foot privacy fence along the west property line partially past the front elevation. Staff recommended approval due to floodplain constraints limiting rear yard. During commission questions, Mr. Workman clarified fence layout, driveway access, and gates. Commissioners expressed support citing floodplain hardship and rural setting. Vote: motion by Suriano, seconded by Greenberg; approved 6-0 (Shapaka absent).
  • V-0002-2026 – Variance for Frontage: Ms. Capka presented the request to vary Section 1103.06(e) to allow a lot split creating two parcels with ~120.9 and ~120.3 feet of frontage (code requires 150 feet). Each parcel would be ~2.4 acres, exceeding the 1-acre minimum. Staff recommended approval as a minor deviation, noting a prior similar variance on Shull Road. Discussion included the shared driveway and maintenance agreement. Chair Pollyea, as a real estate attorney, advised the applicant to have legal counsel review and re-record the agreement after the split. Vote: motion by Greenberg, seconded by Tamarkin; approved 7-0 (Shapaka present).
  • RULES-0001-2026 – Adoption of Rules of Procedure: Deputy Clerk McGuire explained the only change was removing the 7:00 PM start time to allow the new 6:30 PM schedule. Motion by Greenberg, seconded by Shapaka; approved 7-0.

Official Reports

  • Director of Planning: Michael Blackford thanked the Commission for adjusting the meeting schedule. He highlighted the new Gahanna Lincoln High School opening, crediting the Building Division (Ken Fultz, Ed Loper, Fredena Williams, Mike Frey) for thousands of hours. He also noted demolition at Creekside (Mill Street) as the start of transformative redevelopment.
  • Council Liaison: Chair Pollyea reported City Council’s January 2 organizational meeting elected Trenton Weaver as President and Jamille Jones as Vice President.
  • Mayor Laurie A. Jadwin: Echoed appreciation for the Building Division, Public Safety, and Engineering on the high school. Announced the Civic Center (825) grand opening in approximately three months with staff move-in expected in Q1. Expressed excitement about Creekside demolition and the implementation of “Our Gahanna” strategic plan adopted in November 2025, focusing on metrics and transparency.
  • Chair Pollyea: Shared personal reflections as a Gahanna Lincoln High School alumna (Class of 1993) on touring both the old and new buildings.

Key Outcomes

  • Two variances approved unanimously (V-0001-2026 and V-0002-2026).
  • Updated Rules of Procedure adopted.
  • Meeting schedule established: second Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, November on first Wednesday.
  • Council Liaison appointed.
  • No unfinished business or further correspondence.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Uh good evening, everyone, and welcome to the 2026 organizational meeting for the uh City of Gehana Planning Commission. Uh I am Mayor Laurie Jadwin, and the reason I'm sitting in this seat, you don't usually see me sitting here for these meetings, uh, is because this is the organizational meeting. I am tasked with running this meeting until a new chair is elected for the planning commission. Uh but before we get to the official order of business and officially beginning the organizational meeting, we have some administrative matters uh to take care of, which include administering the oath of office to two of our members who have been reappointed. So I would invite uh Elizabeth Laser and Michael Tamarkin to please join me up here in front of the flagside by side. All right, I'll say I repeat your name, you go first and then you know, and then we can say repeat together. All right, please you raise your right hands, repeat after me. I Elizabeth Laser, Michael Tamarkin. Do solemnly swear that I will support and defend. The constitution and laws of the United States of America. The United States of America. The Constitution and Statutes. Of the state of Ohio. And the charter and ordinances in the charter and ordinances of the city of Gehana. The city of New York. And then I will faithfully, honestly, honestly, and impartially. And impartially. Discharge the duties. Discharge the duties. As a planning commission member. As a planning commission member. For the city of Gehana. For the city of Gehana. To which I have been appointed. So help me God. So help me. Congratulations and thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your service. Thank you. Appreciate that. Elizabeth, sorry. Sign both those ones for you. And once you get to sit for you, all right. Madam Clerk, we will now officially call the meeting to order. I'll do that just to be official. And I don't ever get a chance to do that, so I'm gonna do it here. Uh our first official oh wait, Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Greenberg. Here. Laser, here. Mako. Here. Pollier. Here, Chapaka. Absent. Suriano. Here. Tamarkin.

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