The Bowling Green Planning Commission on Wednesday recommended to council a potential ordinance amendment
that could allow for wider sidewalks in new developments.
The change affects Section 151.45 of the codified ordinances of the city, specifically under Chapter 151
Subdivision Regulations; Construction Standards. The amendment was requested by the public works
department.
A January letter from Brian Craft, public works director, described the proposed change, stating they are
seeking to increase sidewalk widths going forward from the existing width of 4 feet to 5 feet.
The letter noted that over the past 20 years the city has made sidewalks wider “for improved efficiency
and safer pedestrian movement,” including most recently on Conneaut and Fairview avenues. The Toledo
Metropolitan Area Council of Governments’ Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines and Safe Routes
to Schools also recommends the 5-foot measurement.
The letter noted that it is recognized that a (4 foot) wide sidewalk generally is too narrow when
pedestrians going in the opposite direction meet, especially when a wheelchair or other assisted
mobility device is in use.
The letter said they are moving to specify (5 foot) wide sidewalks in our engineering specifications and
standards where conditions allow.
The current language of Section 151.45 specifies that sidewalks shall be a minimum width of 4 feet.
The proposed amended language, in Section 151.45(D), would read:
“Sidewalks shall be provided on all residential and commercial lots, except for industrial uses in park
setting as modified by (Section 151.38(B)(6)) where sidewalks are provided only on arterial and
collector streets. Minimum sidewalks widths shall meet City of Bowling Green Engineering specifications.
Curb ramps shall be built at intersections and shall be built to Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility
Guidelines.”
Resident Ken Gutbrod, of Flanders Avenue, raised concerns about the changes prior to the vote, saying his
neighbors “are against wider sidewalks” and the proposal doesn’t address a need for them.
“Ninety-five percent of the time, on my street, there’s nobody on the street… and that’s the way it’s
going to be when you put up these expensive houses,” Gutbrod said.
He said schools should be the priority for the city.
“We need to look here at how we can save money,” he said.
Commission Chair Jeff Betts, building off of an earlier clarification from member Judy Ennis, told
Gutbrod that there are no plans “to retroactively go to every single sidewalk and make it wider,” and
that the decision-making process regarding sidewalks and schools are two separate issues.
“These are changes that are happening all around us,” Betts said of the sidewalk proposal, “and a lot of
this is being driven by younger folks who are moving into communities around the United States.”
The commission unanimously recommended the proposed amendment to council.
The commission also scheduled a May 1 public hearing for a rezoning request for 525 Ridge St., requested
by David Maurer of Deer Hollow LLC. Maurer is listed as the agent/owner of the property in documents
filed with the city. The property is 0.1102 acres in size.
The property is currently listed as B-1 Limited Commercial, and is the site of the Heat tanning salon.
The request is to rezone the property to R-5 University Related Residential zoning.
According to an application for change in zoning classification filed with the city, the present use of
the property is “legal nonconforming retail” with an apartment overhead.
The proposed use of the property under R-5 would be a multiple family dwelling commensurate with those
uses found in (the) R-5 zoning district.
As to the rationale for the change, the application states R-5 is (the) highest and best use. The
proposed zoning change to R-5 zoning is in line with the most recent Community Action Plan vision.
Neighboring properties are also zoned R-5, on (the) west and northwest of (the) subject property.
In further business, the commission also approved a request for a replat of two inlots, 6884 and 6881, at
Bellard Business Center Plat Two.
Planning Director Heather Sayler wrote in a letter that Sue Clark, executive director of Bowling Green
Economic Development, has been working with city administration to replat the lots, which are 10.05
acres and 11.24 acres, both with frontage along Miller Drive and Bishop Road. The replat would
reconfigure them to be 11.585 acres, with frontage along Brim Road and Bishop Road, and 9.685 acres with
frontage along Miller Drive.
“Originally, these parcels were purchased to be used as a utility complex for the city of Bowling Green,”
Sayler’s letter stated. “However, the city no longer has plans for utilizing the site for the purpose of
a building. Currently, Ms. Clark has a higher demand for industries in need of smaller parcels and is
proposing the re-plat to accommodate this interest.”
The reconfiguration “will provide smaller sites for Ms. Clark to market and will likely be more
compatible to the adjacent residential than a large industrial user in need of several acres.”
During the meeting, Clark said that she receives “inquiries every week” regarding smaller-acre
properties, and currently has two prospects for Bellard Park properties.
The replat was approved by the commission, with an abstention by member Nathaniel Spitler, who said that
he serves on the BG Economic Development board.