By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In the continuing effort to beautify Bowling Green’s entryways along Wooster and Main streets, the city is looking at sprucing up setbacks.
City Council will hear the second reading Tuesday of an ordinance requiring buffers for parking lots in front of businesses along the main streets of Bowling Green.
The buffer, as approved by the city planning commission, would require a consistent use of stone piers, fencing and landscaping.
“This would be screening parking – that’s not the prettiest thing to see,” said Bowling Green Planning Director Heather Sayler.
“This would soften the look, rather than just asphalt,” Sayler said. “It looks nice.”
The city hired a landscape architect to create a “higher standard” for the entrances to the city.
The new buffer would be required with new construction, an addition, a building or site alteration, or a change in use that requires a site plan. It will only be applied if a parking lot is proposed within the front yard setback, or if there is an existing parking lot in the front yard setback.
The setback buffer will not be required for parking areas in the back or side of businesses.
“We want a consistent look,” Sayler said, noting the use of front setback screenings by the city of Perrysburg. “It would be nice to have an entryway look that’s consistent.”
Originally the buffer was only planned for East Wooster Street. However, it became apparent that Wooster is not the only main corridor in the city.
“It seems most appropriate to do both corridors,” Sayler said.
“To think long-term for the identity and aesthetics of both corridors, it seemed critical that Main Street be included in this proposed change,” the proposal to the planning commission stated. “This would provide a consistent look and feel for both corridors, along with an identifiable features for Bowling Green over time.”
This ordinance is implementing recommendations of recent planning documents created for Bowling Green.
Bowling Green State University officials were also involved in addressing the aesthetics of parking lot setbacks.
“They want a better look, too, at their entry,” Sayler said.
