PERRYSBURG — A large crowd packing the city council chambers was apparently convincing enough for council to vote down approval of a proposed Locust Street rezoning request.

However, a rezoning application for property along Louisiana was approved at Tuesday’s council meeting.

In regards to the Locust Street property, in which developers requested rezoning from single residential to multi-family to allow them to build seven duplexes on a 0.56 acre lot, the vote was 4 -3 against allowing the rezoning. Those in favor of the rezoning were council members Cory Kulhlman, Rick Rettig, and Kevin Fuller. Those against were Tim McCarthy, Barry VanHoozen, Kelly Wellstein and Mark Weber.

Located on the south side of East 5th Street between Locust Street and Sandusky Street where there currently is a single residential building, vacant land and a parking lot, developer/owner Danial S. Anderson of Perrysburg wrote in his proposal that what is missing in the planning for city housing, were one- to two-bedroom “middle” properties where young professionals could start ownership or aging residents could have options allowing them to buy a smaller property with little or no need for maintenance.

However, neighbors to the property pointed out that that such development requires 3 acres to meet zoning requirements and setting the precedent of allowing a smaller lot size will open the gates to other developers seeking the same conditions. They also pointed out the neighborhood is designated as a “legacy” area and the multi-family building would not fit the neighborhood. They were also concerned that the alleyways around the rezoned property would see higher traffic in an area where their children ride their bikes and residents walk.

There were no neighbor objections to approving a second requested rezoning of 1.67 acre plot property located on the west side of Lousiana Avenue between Whiteside Drive and Dr. McAuley Court. Owner/developer John Modene requested changing the zoning R-4 single residential to R-5 two-family residential, which will allow the building of duplex townhouses. The property is bordered on the north and west by R-3 single family residential, to the south by RM multiple family residential/institutional and to the east by R-4/INS single family residential/institutional property.

Modene also pointed out the need for “missing middle” transitional-type housing that allows young professionals to start participating in home ownership and/or older residents to stay in the community.

Concerns over high density housing also bubbled up at an urban overlay public hearing held immediately before the regular council meeting, where the large crowd of residents also expressed concern over the trend toward high-density apartment buildings. At that public meeting, plans were reviewed for continued development of the 85 acre Harbor Town Place along Ohio 25, where a total of 165 two- or three-bedroom rental apartments are being proposed.

Resident Chris Finkbeiner expressed concern that the percentage of apartments versus single residences would drag home prices down. For example, he said allowing a high percentage of rentals in Toledo versus home ownership had eventually negatively affected the value of homes in Toledo.

Others said that apartment renters do not have pride of ownership and that a transient population coming and going from rentals would not lend to a feeling of community. Others objected to adding to the school district’s student load, when the schools are already struggling with crowded schools and the failure of levies to fund new buildings.

In addressing the overall concerns over housing, after the council meeting Mayor Tom Mackin said that the council and administration were doing their best to mitigate the many concerns in the community.

For example, working to expand and diversify their tax base has resulted in expansions at Mercy and Promedica along with the related medical buildings and that Freightliner had moved into town. He said because Perrysburg is such an unqualified success — including a good school system — everyone wants to live there.

In regards to over-crowding happening in the school, he laid some of the problems at the feet of the State of Ohio, saying the State needs to review long-term school funding issues, now having transferred some of the financial burden to successful communities such as Perrysburg.

However, in regard to land use, he pointed out that as long as property owners conform to city zoning rules, state law prevents the city from dictating how a property owner uses his property and that attempting to do so would violate his property rights and be an invasion of privacy