By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Pedestrians in Bowling Green will have a little more room to stretch their legs thanks to action Monday by Bowling Green City Council to establish a new standard for sidewalk width. (http://bgindependentmedia.org/bg-residents-may-soon-be-strolling-on-wider-sidewalks/)
The council voted unanimously to amend the city’s subdivision regulations to require new sidewalks in the city be five feet wide That’s a foot more than the current standard of four feet.
The change was recommended by the Planning Commission and is in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, recommendations, and the city’s own vision for complete streets.
Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter said that the wider walks will allow people to more easily stroll side by side, or pass each other.
She said the new sidewalks on Fairview show the difference the sidewalks can make.
This does not mean, she said, that every sidewalk replaced will be five foot wide. It will not apply to individual replacements, only to longer stretches of a block or more.
No one from the public commented during the hearing that immediately preceded the council meeting.
Council unanimously passed on its first reading a resolution honoring Daniel Gordon, who served on council representing the First Ward for seven years, before leaving resigning last October citing health concerns and a change in residence.
Mark Hollenbaugh, of the Community Improvement Committee, also distributed copies of a draft ordinance banning the use of thin, single-use, carryout plastic bags (http://bgindependentmedia.org/bg-plastic-bag-ban-drafted-now-it-moves-to-entire-council/) and establishing a sustainability board.
Also, at the meeting the council accepted a number of appointments and re-appointments to city boards.
New appointments were:
- Bicycle Safety Commission — Kirby Bucks, one year. Bucks will replace the representative from Bowling Green High School who will be graduating this year. She is an incoming freshman at the high school and is an active cyclist.
- Bicycle Safety Commission — Andrew McDermott, three years. McDermott has been a resident of Bowling Green for 25 years and is an active cyclist. He will represent the east side of the city on the commission.
- Parks and Recreation Board — Phil Simmons, five years. Simmons will replace JD Pooley on the board. He is a longtime resident of Bowling Green and is active with the Bowling Green Community Development Foundation and the RotaryClub.
- Traffic Commission — Eric Klotz, four Years. Klotz will replace Linda Gray on the Traffic Commission, who was term limited. Klotz is the fourth generation owner and operator of Klotz Floral and Garden Center. He and his wife, Sarah, reside on the east side of the City.
- Tree Commission — Phil Hollenbaugh, three years. He will replace Terry Leek who was term limited. Hollenbaugh is retired from Ironworkers Local #55 and has lived in Bowling Green for the past 39 years. He is a 2012 graduate of the Master Gardner program. The Hosta Glen at Simpson Garden Park was designed and created by Hollenbaugh and received national recognition in 2014.
- Zoning Appeals — Nathan Eberly, three years. He replaces the seat recently vacated by Jonathan Jakubowski. Eberly is a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch and has worked in financial services, banking, and accounting for over 10 years.
Reappointments were:
- Bicycle Safety — Kristin Otley, three years; Reagan Otley, one year; and Madison Stump, one year.
- Human Relations — Ellie Boyle, one year; Morgan Hollandsworth, one year, and Major Justin White, three years.
- Parks and Recreation — Monique Rosati, five years.
- Planning — Erica Sleek, six years.
- Public Utilities — Matt Paquette, five years.
