Respondents to a recent survey about future land use in Bowling Green seem to be happy with the proposed
direction the city is heading – but still see room for improvement.
The results of the Future Land Use Survey were released to the public last week.
"I think we’re pretty happy with the results," said Heather Sayler, Bowling Green’s planning
director. Approximately 400 people responded to the survey, and more than 28 pages of comments were
received. The survey report is available via the City of Bowling Green website.
The survey data comes as the result of a session on future land use held in the downtown in April. The
data is being collected and considered in the crafting of the future land use section of the city’s
master plan. That section was last updated in the 1980s. Approximately 250 attended the April land use
event, and had the opportunity to either fill out a survey there, or to do so online.
Overall, at least 70 percent of respondents seemed pleased with proposed approaches for development in
the eastern portions of the city, including on East Wooster and the northeastern and southeastern
neighborhoods, as well as the downtown.
However, those surveyed also seemed to think that such development is needed: just under 80 percent
agreed or strongly agreed current conditions in the northeast neighborhood need attention; and 84
percent and 77 percent agreed or strongly agreed that conditions in the southeast neighborhood and in
the downtown, respectively, need attention.
One comment, of the 18 showcased in the results document, said: "There are a lot of shabby looking
places in the most visible places of BG, and that’s a shame for the city. You can’t attract new
populations to a town that looks like that. The most important area of a town is downtown. It’s the
heart of any city. The downtown is what creates the first impressions on visitors when they first arrive
in town. And the downtown in BG is not only Main St. but Wooster as well. Don’t just beautify East
Wooster. Make sure the building(s) are functional, clean, and up-kept."
"I think they’ll definitely be given high priority," Sayler said of the survey results and
comments. "We want to hear from the public, we want public support."
Approximately 78 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the sentiment that the city needs
to have new zoning regulations for development "that are up to date and capable of addressing
today’s contemporary market and development challenges."
Nearly 83 percent agreed or strongly agreed the city "needs a new comprehensive plan to direct
growth and re(development) activities." Eighty-two percent agreed or strongly agreed "it’s
time for Bowling Green to increase its level of reinvestment in itself." A further 74 percent of
respondents said they would be "willing to see more of my tax dollars go towards improving the
quality of life in Bowling Green," including aesthetic improvements.
Some comments featured in the survey focused on the importance of making the city a hip, attractive place
– and the fear that younger residents are moving elsewhere.
"Bowling Green is having an identity crisis," said one such comment. "Our young
professionals buy houses in Perrysburg because of a perceived identity that Perrysburg is upscale."

"I believe that it is within our abilities to make BG a more appealing and trendy place to
live," read part of another comment.
That issue seemed to draw some of the strongest consensus on the survey.
Sayler said she was "blown away" that over 93 percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed
that the city "needs to be able to attract and retain young professionals."
"That’s just mind-blowing to see that everybody agreed with that" she said. "I think it
just says to be mindful that we want to be a destination for all sorts of people, but realizing that if
we get people who are just starting out in their careers and having a family, hopefully we can keep them
here for their whole life cycle."
Sayler said that the 18-person steering committee hopes to have a working draft of the future land use
section of the document by the end of the summer. The committee met Wednesday.