By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Menards has filed paperwork with the City of Bowling Green Planning Department.
The company is looking at building a store on the south end of the city – south of Walmart and across the road from Home Depot.
The paperwork filed with the planning office is seeking variances from three city sign regulations, according to Heather Sayler, planning director for the city.
The company, which specializes in home improvement products, has not yet applied for a zoning permit to build on the property, Sayler said.
“I think they want to check off the boxes,” with getting signage variances being one of those boxes, she said.
Sayler said her understanding is that the company wants to start working on the new site early in 2019 if possible.
According to the paperwork filed with the city, Menards would like a sign along South Main Street that exceeds the city’s maximum height of 25 feet. Store officials will be asking for a variance allowing a 40-foot tall sign.
Store officials have also asked for a variance to the city ordinance that allows up to three signs on the exterior of the building.
The Zoning Board of Appeals will review the store’s requests during its meeting on Dec. 12, at 7 p.m.
The application lists the owner of the property as B.G.V.H. Co., represented by Anthoni Visconsi II.
Sue Clark, director of Bowling Green Community Development Foundation, said last month that Menards had been scouting out possible locations in the city.
“They have been looking at the community for eight months or so,” Clark said.
Initially, the company was looking at a site on East Wooster Street near the Holiday Inn Express, she said. Store officials then shifted to the location on South Main Street.
“We plan to build a new store in Bowling Green, OH at some point in the near future,” Jeff Abbott, Menards spokesperson stated in an email last month. “We are still in the planning phase and have not yet finalized when we might start construction.”
