By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Stone Ridge subdivision, on the west edge of Bowling Green, is experiencing a growth spurt. The new homes will be maintained by a homeowners’ association – meaning no planting, mowing, mulching or shoveling by the homeowners.
Last week, the city planning commission approved preliminary plans for Plat 8 with 26 new homes in the golf course development. The plans received unanimous approval, and will not need City Council’s blessing.
Stone Ridge currently has 208 occupied residential homes, according to Bob Spitler, with the development. Nine new units are under construction, and 16 lots are available for sale.
The growth at Stone Ridge comes on top of already healthy housing additions in Bowling Green this year. According to Planning Director Heather Sayler, the city has requests for 19 new single-family homes so far this year, compared to 14 at this time last year.
This newest plat in Stone Ridge will consist of a new road called Winterwood Court, with 19 lots on 7.2 acres that will be included in a separate homeowners’ association which will maintain the yards, landscaping, snow removal for each lot, and the common area. There will also be five additional lots on the extension of Pine Valley Drive.
The developer of the new lots is Stone Ridge Partners of Bowling Green Ltd. The builder for Winterwood is Tony Buff Custom Builders.
The planning commission gave a waiver for Winterwood Court, which exceeded the length allowed for cul-de-sacs in the city. The extra length had already received approval from the city fire division.
Dave Saneholtz, of Poggemeyer Design Group, explained that the 19 homes on Winterwood would be positioned using a “building envelope” on the lots. There will be no common walls, as in another section of Stone Ridge, where two homes share the walls between them.
“We believe this will work out great,” Saneholtz said. “I’ve seen some of these in Perrysburg, and that’s where we’re losing some people to.”
Also at last week’s city planning commission meeting, a public hearing was held on the rezoning of 0.3247 acres at 500 Sixth St. from M-1 light industrial to R-3 multiple-family residential with moderate density. The owners are William and Renee Trout.
The Trouts plan to build two duplexes on the property, plus keep the single-family residence that is already located there.
Some neighbors of the property, who live on Manville Road, raised concerns about the lack of parking already at the site, plus the frequent trash that goes unpicked up at the property. The Trouts said they have invested money in other homes in the area. They said parking spaces will be added to the site.
The rezoning request will go to City Council next.
