By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The path has been cleared for a new manufacturing site in Bowling Green.
Following a public hearing Wednesday evening, the Bowling Green Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend 40 acres on East Wooster Street be changed to M-3 business park zoning.
The property, which is currently farmland, will become part of the Wood Bridge Business Park. The acreage is located to the east of the Meijer store, to the south of the business park, and to the north of the Holiday Inn Express on the other side of East Wooster Street.
The site already has access to utilities oversized for industrial users, according to Bowling Green Planning Director Heather Sayler. The city planned years ago to serve more industrial customers in that area, she explained.
“It really fits in with the surrounding zoning,” Sayler said.
The plan for the acreage is the construction of a 100,000-square-foot speculative building that would then be marketed to prospective manufacturers by the city, according to Kati Thompson, executive director of Bowling Green Economic Development.
“We’re really excited about this opportunity,” Thompson said.
“There’s a huge need for speculative manufacturing buildings in Northwest Ohio,” she said.
Also planned on the acreage is a road from East Wooster Street to the existing Wood Bridge Business Park roadway. That will provide a critical second access to the business park, Thompson said.
The sole access to the business park currently is off Dunbridge Road.
“That can create a dangerous situation at times,” Thompson said.
An additional waterline into the business park will also be installed.
Thompson also pointed out to the planning commission that the city currently has options on another 50 acres to the east of the property currently being rezoned.
“Wood Bridge as a whole is growing,” she said.
The planning commission’s recommendation will now go to City Council, which will hold its own public hearing on the zoning request.
