Three members of a committee working on an update to the Land Use Section of Bowling Green’s Master Plan
provided an initial report to city council Tuesday night.
"The consultants the city has hired are real task masters and are holding this committee responsible
to do a lot of work," Judy Ennis said.
The committee is comprised of citizens and city staff. Several work sessions have been held and Ennis
said the group often has homework to do.
Ennis said one focus is to answer the question: "Is Bowling Green headed in the right
direction?"
To help answer the question the group has listed assets, such as the small town atmosphere, a unique
downtown, parks and recreation opportunities, city services, safe places, the university, schools and
sustainable energy for discussion.
Sandy Milligan told council that time has also been spent on talking with small groups and individuals.
In those meetings people have mentioned primary and secondary streets, transportation and connections,
housing types, community growth, formulating a plan with BGSU and green spaces.
After the meeting Milligan said she believes that members of the committee have probably each averaged
about 20 hours of their time on the project.
Mark Remeis talked about the "How to stay in the game" portion of the project. This is being
done by identifying a community vision, identifying a target market, outlining strategies and setting a
course for the future.
Remeis said there will be a community meeting announced for this spring.
The committee will pass its work to the BG Planning Commission for its review and eventually city council
will have its say. The commission will likely hold a public hearing and council is required to hold a
public hearing before adopting the update.
The land use section was last updated in 1987.
"The questions are easy to ask and tougher to answer," At-Large Council Member Bruce Jeffers
said.
Council also:
• Set a public hearing for proposed rezoning of the Wood County Hospital property for April 7 at 6 p.m.
Jeffers said he is aware of some discussion about how to address concerns about the rezoning in advance
of the hearing.
• Approved an ordinance selling the former Ridge Street school property to Midwest Environmental Control
Inc. for $1. The ordinance calls for the firm to demolish the building and graded to street level and
then seeded to grass by June 1, 2014. This is the same method the city used for demolition of the former
school properties on West Wooster Street and South Grove Street.
• Heard a one-hour forum on the use of the Ridge Elementary site will be held Monday at 6 p.m. in the
Wood County Senior Center, 305 N. Main St.
• Learned the city picked up 780 tons of recycling items in 2013, an increase of 53 tons from 2012.
Director of Public Works Brian Craft said meant 16 percent of the city’s waste did not go to the
landfill. Regular refuse collection was 4,800 tons, up just nine tons from 2012.
• Heard Fourth Ward Council Member Theresa Charters Gavarone report that several residents took the time
to make positive comments to her about city snow removal efforts.
• Heard a reminder that council orientation is planned Saturday morning.
• Held an 70-minute executive session to discuss labor contracts, then adjourned. Five contracts with
city employees expire this year.