Bowling Green Planning Director Heather Sayler was beaming Monday evening as she watched residents make
their way around an open house to share the city’s work on an update to its future land use plan.
"I’m thrilled," Sayler said. "It has been really exciting to see a diverse crowd, with
people of all ages and people I have not seen before."
Eight stations with concept plans, maps and lists of ideas and data were staffed and explained by an
18-member steering committee and others who have been involved in the project for several months.
Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and submit written comments as they visited the stations set
up around the interior of the Melt Shoppe on North Main Street.
The future land use section of the city’s master plan was last updated in the late 1980s.
During the three-hour session about 240 people signed the register and picked up materials to supplement
the displays. Attendees were also encouraged to fill out a three-page questionnaire or access the survey
online. Surveys can be filled out through May 12 at 5 p.m.
This morning Sayler said the committee and city officials gathered for a breakfast to review the open
house. "It was a very enthusiastic group," she said.
Consultant Charles Buki, of czb LLC, Alexandria. Va., said the next step will be to take review the
surveys and comments, figure out what people really liked and what they didn’t. From there the steering
committee and the city’s senior staff will review the information. Eventually the city’s planning
commission will review a document and hold a public hearing. After that the proposal goes to city
council for additional review, another public hearing and a vote. The work may be finished by the end of
the summer. There is no specific deadline.
"Tonight has been very civil," Buki said. "I can’t tell you how refreshing it is not to
get hammered. People have been very respectful and shared their ideas and concerns. The steering
committee has done its work. They own the data."
The stations were: Overview; So You think You Know Bowling Green; Impacts of Long-tolerated Housing
Standards; Values, Vision, Target Market; Southeast; Northeast; East Wooster; and Downtown. The
Southeast, Northeast, East Wooster and Downtown stations contained multiple display boards to show
existing conditions and conclusions and action plans.
Ericka Sleek, a planning commission member at the downtown station, said she was getting a mixed reaction
to an idea that on-street parking be eliminated downtown. Some residents liked the idea of putting a
parking garage on an existing city lot. "They seem to like the idea of improved housing on the
upper floors of downtown buildings and want to make sure the green space remains" where the school
was demolished. "I think we are getting a lot of good, positive feedback," she said.
Committee member Bruce Jeffers, who is also an at-large member of city council, said people seem to be
positive and offering ideas. "I am especially anxious to hear how people are reacting to ideas to
improve the East Wooster entrance to the city. I think that is a key component to all of this. That
first impression coming off Interstate 75 means a lot."
Members of the steering committee are Vicky Adler-Valentine, Jeff Betts, Julie Broadwell, Jill Carr,
Suzanne Clark, Jennifer Copp, Doug Cubberly, Judy Ennis, Gary Hess, Ph.D., Jeffers, Earlene Kilpatrick,
Steve Krakoff, Sandy Milligan, Emily A Monago, Ph.D., Mark Remeis, Barbara Ruland, Sayler, and Lori
Tretter.
Documents dealing with the update can be found on the city’s website, www.bgohio.org. Click on the planning commission
button on the left side of the page.