LIME CITY – Despite neighbors’ concerns for trash and traffic, Perrysburg Township Trustees have approved a rezoning request that will allow a gas station to go it at a busy intersection.
At their Wednesday meeting, trustees held a public hearing for a rezoning request from R-1 rural residential to C-3 highway business for 7 acres at the northwest corner of Tracy Road and Ohio 795.
Brian McMahon, a real estate broker with Danbury National, said the plan is to place a Circle K on the site.
James Youngs, who said he lived on Tracy Road adjacent to the site, asked that a 6-foot privacy fence be built to keep the trash out of his yard.
“I don’t want to see trash. I don’t want to see trash in our yards,” he said.
He also asked if another Circle K was needed, as there is one at the intersection of Oregon Road and Route 795 – one mile west of the proposed location.
Ron McKnight, who also lives on Tracy Road, said there were enough problems with truck traffic and all-night noise.
He said traffic backs up on Tracy Road from Commodore Drive south to Route 795.
He said the addition of the gas station will devalue his land, as who will want to live in a neighborhood that is all industrial.
“I’m totally against it,” he said.
Trustee Bob Mack said there is no industrial zoning on Route 795 until west of Oregon Road. The corridor between Tracy and Oregon roads includes zoning for community and neighborhood business and medium and low density residential.
Zoning Administrator Kelly Moore said businesses that can go into a C-3 highway business district include convenience stores, fueling stations, health care clinics and health spas.
“I can appreciate the concern, but I also have to take a step back and say it’s pretty obvious what’s happening in the corridor,” Mack said.
Youngs also mentioned the number of accidents at the Route 795/Tracy Road intersection and nearly a dozen vehicles a night fly across that intersection trying to beat the light.
“And the cops are doing nothing about it,” McKnight said.
“If it’s going to be right behind me, I don’t want that noise,” Youngs said.
McMahon said it was not his decision, but he would share with the developers the concern about putting up a screen to protect neighboring properties.
“I think they will be sensitive to the fact there will be neighbors who will be impacted,” he said.
Trustee Gary Britten said it was his opinion that commercial and industrial are good while housing hurts the school district.
Mack said if the request was for industrial, he may pause before giving approval, but the request for commercial zoning was reasonable and was in line with what is already there.
Trustees approved the request 2-0 with Joe Schaller abstaining as he has ties to the property owners requesting the rezoning.
The five parcels to be rezoned are owned by Schaller Investment Limited Partnership, Schaller Haus LLC, Jeffrey A. Schaller trustee and Michaella L. Schaller trustee. Property includes the two houses on the northwest corner of the intersection, the parcel immediately north of the homes and the 5-acre field to the west.
In March, the Wood County Planning Commission and the Perrysburg Township Planning Commission both made recommendations that the request be approved.
Also at their board meeting, trustees:
Entered into an agreement with the Wood County Commissioners for road work at an estimated cost of $50,000.
Approved a bid from Gerken Paving Inc., Napoleon, for 2024 paving projects in the amount of $884,507.
Five bids were received and went as high as $1.07 million.
“It’s an ambitious paving season,” Mack said.
Approved requests from fire Chief Tom Brice to submit applications for grants for hazardous materials training (requesting $23,800) and to switch the current lock-box entry systems from a key entry to an electronic (requesting $4,848, which is 5% of the value of the requested equipment).
Approved a request from the police department to spend $20,300 for access to criminal histories through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
Approved a request by police Chief Matt Gazarek to send Det. Jeff Slusher to the Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas, Texas, in August. There will be no cost to the township as the Wood County Job and Family Services will cover airfare, hotel, registration and meals.
Over the last few years, JFS has received around 80 complaints a year involving residents in Perrysburg Township. In 2022, the detective division assisted with 25 investigations and another 30 in 2023. To date this year, the division has assisted in six investigations, according to information provided by Det. Lt. Scott Moskowitz.
Discussed the future of Simmons Park. Bob Warnimont, recreation director, suggested digging a bond and installing a walking trail around it.
“I think a lot of people would use it,” he said. “Everybody is out walking, and everybody wants an open area.”
Administrator Jon Eckel told Warnimont to put a plan together and submit it to the board.
They’ve had studies done of the site and they’re all very expensive, Eckel said.
“I don’t want to spend $1 million over there,” Mack said.
Learned Moore was working on updating the township’s zoning maps and the county engineer’s office was willing to do it at no cost.
Learned the township had received three proposals for the new administration building and Eckel hoped to have a recommendation at the next meeting.
Heard resident Louis Bauer indicate if there is contract advantageous to both the Rossford and township fire departments, he would support it. But when he asked if Rossford firefighters who had the necessary training and qualifications would keep their job, he was told no.
He urged the trustees to reconsider.
“I find that offensive to a lot of men and women who have worked in Rossford for many years,” he said.
