The Vandalia City Council held a study session on April 20, 2026, to discuss potential moratoriums on small box discount retail and fuel station development, and to consider updates to rules governing public comments at council meetings. Council members debated the purpose, scope, and duration of each moratorium, ultimately deciding on a 180-day moratorium for small box retail while declining a fuel station moratorium in favor of a regulatory review. They also expressed support for formalizing public comment procedures.
Small Box Discount Retail Moratorium: Council members considered a proposed moratorium on small box discount retail stores (defined as establishments with items generally costing under $10 and floor area between 3,000 and 15,000 square feet). Some members expressed concern about unintended consequences, including sending a negative signal to small businesses and potentially discouraging other desirable retail. Others argued the community has reached a threshold for such stores and that a moratorium would allow time to review zoning regulations, spacing requirements, and the variance process. The city manager noted that many Ohio communities have enacted similar moratoriums. After debate, council agreed to a six-month (180-day) moratorium, with the understanding that staff would bring back specific recommendations on definitions, locations, and distance requirements. The definition was left at 3,000–15,000 square feet after discussion about whether to lower the minimum to 3,000 or raise it to 5,000.
Fuel Station Moratorium: Council reviewed a map showing current fuel station locations and existing regulations (e.g., minimum distances between stations, setbacks from residential areas). Several members noted the existing code already limits where new stations can be built, citing two past proposals that were denied due to proximity restrictions. Three potential fuel station projects are in the pipeline (pre-application reviews underway), and council agreed these should be allowed to proceed. The consensus was to forgo a moratorium and instead have staff review current standards and consider possible tweaks, such as increasing residential setbacks or removing neighborhood business zoning as a permitted use for fuel stations.
Rules on Public Comments: Mr. Oldhouse presented options for updating council's public comment procedures, including requiring a sign-in form with name, address, and topic, and adopting a consistent time limit (five minutes was favored). Council members supported formalizing rules to improve order and record-keeping, while maintaining flexibility for late arrivals and allowing the chair discretion. They also noted the need to update Chapter 11 of the codified ordinances, including removing obsolete language about destroying ballots. Staff will draft a revised ordinance for council consideration.
I guess if there's any more questions on this one. Well, so and I I wasn't at the last study session, so I guess my question is what is initiating this desire for a complete moratorium on this development or these types of development. I I as part of my concern is I mean, even with a definition of a small box discount retail, I think we also are saying no to other businesses that we may want during that moratorium. So I I think there's some unintended right. There's potential for unintended uh consequences for anti-development because we're trying to focus on one thing, and I mean, are we are we concerned about it in one location or are we concerned about 'cause I I feel like we've kind of reached our threshold in the community for these types of establishments. Um not that saying because obviously there's one there's one that has put in an application um which is subject to the variance process and can kind of work its way through the process that way, uh just like it did last time. But I guess I look at this as even though people sometimes want to put a negative connotation on this type of development, there's obviously a need in the community or else they would not be building it here. Um and I I think I guess that's kind of where I'm at is w what is driving the need to actually put a moratorium on all small retail development, because I don't think that's good for the city, in my opinion. So I I guess are you asking me that? I'm just asking. That was my impression or understanding of why we were going down this road. Yeah. Do we have two or three? We got three currently now. So if you drive south on North Dixie close to uh Bartley Road. There are three gas stations. Right. One right next to the other. I think that's what we want to avoid. We're still talking about retail stores. Yeah, I know, but I'm using that as an example. Okay. You know, we we just jumping ahead, but to that point, our zoning code already restricts that. Yeah. So I mean, yeah, but that's that's the fuel station. That's a different discussion. But so I guess my question will be, and it's on a on later slide too, but we get to those, but it's like that was brought to us as a suggestion to do that, so we brought back some information on it. And and you're right. If if we're gonna do a moratorium, we're gonna need direction. What what do you want us to look at? I mean, what regulations do you want us to change or or or do you want to ban them? Or you know, they're we can't just do a moratorium and then do nothing about it, and then it expires, and then we're right back to where we are. We have to have some direction on what you want us to look at and change or investigate or or whatever. It was council member head. Yeah, I just had a question, and that was two that two of the things I wrote down or both of those things. It's like I'm not saying I'm against it by any means, but what what are we putting the moratorium on for? You know, like what will be the reason? Like with the data centers we're trying to find, you know, trying to research more again. But my other question in Nicory's point is will the definition where it's that generally costs the consumer less than ten dollars. Will that differentiate between regular retail and specify it more to the discounted? Will that like kind of based on research? That's kind of the demarcator as to how other cities that have issued a moratorium in this direction have demarcated it. Some of them focus um if they're in a food desert type of situation, they'll focus more on the grocery and the fresh food of it. But for the generic, you might say they kind of look at that dollar value. Yeah. So that is enough too that it's something else came theoretically. Okay. Um, you know, if you would look at larger box stores, their prices are normally above ten dollars. Yeah, type of thing. Okay.