In a brief special meeting on Thursday, Bowling Green Council approved an annexation of more than 131 acres into the city, as well as interim zoning for the property.
The property could be used for industrial development at a future date.
The planning commission recommended that council approve both measures when they considered them during the commission’s regular meeting on Wednesday.
The approximately 131.09 acres are located on Nims Road in Center Township, with some frontage on Ohio 25. The petitioner for the annexation and the interim zoning is Maurer Family Farms LLC.
During the planning commission meeting, it was noted that the annexation is a proactive step in anticipation of future development.
At that meeting, Kati Thompson, director of Bowling Green Economic Development, said that over the past year, Jobs Ohio – the state’s economic development arm – has looked at sites in communities around Ohio, and provided action items to improve those sites’ readiness.
“Companies are really concerned about timeline and speed to market,” Thompson said, “and this is one thing we could get done in advance.”
The commission on Wednesday unanimously recommended council approve the annexation, as well as interim zoning of M-2 General Industrial for the site.
During the special council meeting, both measures were passed unanimously and without comment.
A public hearing on the zoning matter was held by council’s planning, zoning and economic development committee just prior to the special meeting.
Council voted to excuse council member Joel O’Dorisio, who was absent from the meeting.
