CANFIELD — A business owner who sought outside storage at his storage business will be allowed to do so after City Council on Wednesday approved an ordinance that will allow for a conditional use permit in a B-2 zoning district.

The issue came up at the Jan. 12 meeting as a request from local businessman Ken Cerimele, who also was at Wednesday’s meeting. In January, Cerimele told council he began his quest for outside storage in 2024.

Cerimele owns All-In-One Self Storage at 530 W. Main St. While his business was inside storage, he wanted to expand and provide outside storage for boats and campers. He tried to get a zone change but was denied by the Canfield Planning and Zoning Commision in October because the business is in a B-2 district that does not allow for outside storage.

A zone change to M-1 would create spot zoning, which is not permitted by local laws. The only other option was for the city to allow B-2 outside storage.

The ordinance presented at Wednesday’s meeting is a way to permit outside storage and control it. City Attorney Mark Fortunato said in the new ordinance there are seven specific conditions that need met to be able to have outside storage.

“It would be conditionally permitted,” Fortunato said. “If at any time the business fell out of compliance, (the permit) would go away.”

Among the seven requirements are being located 200 feet from all right-of-ways; including a buffer (fence or landscaping) no less than 6 feet in height; outside storage shall not be the primary use of the property; shall adhere to the stormwater management requirements; shall be on property no less than two acres; shall not occupy more than 50% of the property; and shall not have stored items over 15 feet in height.

Fortunato said all seven items must be met and then the property owner could apply for a conditional use permit, which would require a public hearing and Planning and Zoning’s approval.

“The new ordinance will take effect in 30 days,” Fortunato said.

On a different matter, council approved two ordinances for contracts for local projects.

The first is a contract with MJD Excavating Inc. for the Glenview Drive culvert replacement project. The project cost is estimated at $442,000, with 85% coming from state funds with a 15% local match.

“Once the paperwork is all signed, it can begin,” City Manager David D’Apolito said. “Then it should be completed within 45 days.”

The other project is the C.H. Campbell Elementary Water Service Improvement Project. The project involves a $289,175 loan and calls for the city manager to enter a contract with Z-Tech Builders and Excavators Inc.

“We’ve had a lot of water breaks in the area,” D’Apolito said. “This will create a loop so we would never have to shut the water off to the school to fix a break.”

In other business, Canfield police Chief Chuck Colucci reported on his department’s efforts to crack down on texting while driving. He said Canfield joined with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in the effort.

“Since Feb. 1, 2026, we have issued 17 citations for texting while driving and have given out 13 verbal warnings,” he said.

In January, Colucci was struck from behind while traveling in the U.S. 224 construction zone in Canfield Township by a driver who was texting and not paying attention. Fortunato said the city actually adopted a texting while driving prohibition in 2010 and everyone else is following Canfield’s lead.

Wednesday’s agenda also included a long list of firearms being declared as surplus to permit disposal. Fortunato said the city can only handle surplus firearms in one of two ways: melt them down or sell them to a federally-licensed firearms dealer.

In other business, council:

* Approved John Morvay to fill an empty seat on the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board.

* Heard from D’Apolito that Fair Park now has Wi-Fi. He said there is no password needed.

* Agreed to move to one meeting per month in July and August. The meetings will be July 15 and Aug. 12, both at 5:30 p.m.