PEMBERVILLE – Several residents shared concerns with Pemberville Village Council Tuesday night about a
proposed rezoning request that could eventually lead to dozens of new homes being constructed.
Comments came after council introduced and gave first reading to an ordinance that would rezone 19.46
acres at the west edge of the village from A, agricultural, to R-1, single-family residential. The
rezoning was recommended to council by the Pemberville Planning Commission.
The land is owned by Tom Oberhouse and is located north of Front Street (Ohio 105).
Residents of Sycamore and Sherman streets, which dead-end into the Oberhouse property, were especially
concerned. One property owner said he could not see how the development could be built without widening
Sherman and expressed concern a widened street might come within two feet of the house. Another said his
family had recently purchased a house there after renting for many years in the village.
Another suggested council needed to take a "field trip" to the area to get a better idea of how
existing property would be affected.
Council also heard concerns about the effect of new housing on the value/price of existing houses and
another wondered about the width of the right-of-way for Sycamore and Sherman streets.
Oberhouse said it was his understanding that the village’s subdivision regulations require 24-foot
streets. He said Sycamore has a 50-foot right-of-way and Sherman is either 50 or 60 feet.
Mayor Gordon Bowman said the question before village council is simply one of rezoning. "There are a
number of subdivision regulations that will have to be met. That will be up to an engineer and the
people Mr. Oberhouse hires to make sure there is adequate ingress and egress."
One citizen referred to an article in the Suburban Press which he said indicated "this was a done
deal."
Bowman said he believes the article grew out of a letter he sent to the mayor of Rodinghausen, Germany,
Pemberville’s sister city, that was also published in the village newsletter. Bowman said the letter was
simply an update on activity in Pemberville.
Another resident asked if anyone knew about a similar project proposed for the land in the 1970s.
Ed Wozniak, who was on council at the time, recalled two problems that stalled those plans. "The
housing market was going down at the time and the village and the developer could not agree on the
inlets and outlets. I recall it was mostly the bad market that did it," Wozniak said.
He is also a member of the Planning Commission, along with Council Member William Long, Bowman and
residents Keith Madaras and Dave Miesmer.
Council Member Eileen Schuerman admitted she didn’t know there was a Sycamore Street and was told there
was no street sign. Both streets are shown on the Wood County highway map published by the Wood County
Engineer and Wood County Commissioners.
Village officials said residents will have the opportunity to bring their concerns to council at meetings
March 18 and April 1. A public hearing is scheduled April 1 at 6:45 p.m.
Council also:
• Approved Allison Voland as swimming pool manager and Kristin Long as assistant pool manager. Both will
also work as lifeguards, Schuerman said.
• Gave second reading to the ordinance setting permanent appropriations for 2014. The village has been
operating on a temporary budget, which is the usual procedure.