The Bowling Green Planning Commission on Wednesday approved the first step for a new subdivision on the city’s north side.
The commission unanimously approved the preliminary plan for the Touissant Springs Subdivision, located at the southwest corner of Brim and Newton roads.
“We want to come and be a big success,” said Rick Lundstrom of the subdivision’s developer, Triban, at Wednesday’s meeting. He said they are also involved in a similar project in Lake County. Touissant Springs is planned for 123 lots.
“We’re grateful to be a part of this process and considered for it in (Bowling Green)”, Lundstrom said.
Planning Director Heather Sayler noted that this is the first step in getting the subdivision going.
After Wednesday’s approval, construction plans will be completed and resubmitted to city staff for approval. After that, she said, the developer and subcontractors will start putting infrastructure into the site, and will later come back to the city with the subdivision’s final plat for review. That will eventually come back to the commission for their final approval.
The commission also recommended annexation of three parcels, amounting to just under 2 acres, as part of the Abbott Labs project. The parcels are located at 12821 Nims Road, 17679 North Dixie Highway, and 17708 North Dixie Highway in Center Township. Coert R. Davis, agent on behalf of Abbott, is the petitioner.
Sayler noted that after purchasing their main parcel for the project, Abbott later purchased these three parcels as well.
“Of course, we’d like this all to be in the city also,” Sayler said.
The commission recommended that city council approve the annexation, and also recommended interim zoning of the parcels of Innovation and Employment zoning, matching the zoning of the larger Abbott parcel.
In other city business:
• During their Jan. 23 meeting, the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Board began to consider an outdoor commercial use activity permit for the parks.
“This is specific to more of using a portion of parklands, so public land, for a class or a program that someone’s charging for,” said Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley. She said that occasionally such requests have been made over the years, but there hasn’t been a mechanism to accommodate them in the parks.
“Essentially, we need to approve that, make sure it’s safe, make sure it’s appropriate for the space,” and not affecting other park users, said Otley. In addition to being subject to approval, a $25-per-instance permit fee is being proposed and, among other provisions, the applicant must also show proof of $1 million in general liability insurance.
Further, Otley said that the annual Party for the Parks fundraising event for the Parks and Recreation Foundation netted $17,058, while their Brewfest event netted $4,700. She said the Party for the Parks funds were earmarked for projects in City Park.
