By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The building by the tracks at 510 E. Wooster St. has had a colorful – even checkered – history.
To the old timers in Bowling Green, it was the Burger Chef, where you could get a burger and fries for a quarter. Later it became a Hard Body’s Co-Ed Gym, then The Shed which sold hippie paraphernalia just this side of legal, and finally Eclipse Salon.
Its most recent role has been that of an eyesore, sitting empty for more than a decade after a fire.
But it appears the shop – or at least the location – may be resurrected again.
A request to rezone the 0.2235-acre site just to the east of the railroad tracks was approved Wednesday evening by the Bowling Green Planning Commission. The request was made by new owners Charles & Kenneth Holdings Ltd., of which Ammar Mufleh is a partner. Mufleh is owner of the ClaZel in downtown Bowling Green.
The site will be changed from B-2 general commercial zoning to B-5 transitional central business district zoning. The new zoning will allow for more flexibility with the odd-shaped location.
“This property was the original property that was the reason for B-5 zoning,” said attorney Bob Spitler, who was representing the new owners. “The ongoing appearance in recent times has been horrible.”
The plans for the property are unknown, Spitler said.
Also approved for the same zoning change was 0.0924 acres just to the east of the old Shed property. Jay Williams requested B-5 zoning at 516 E. Wooster St., formerly Myles Pizza and now Pizza Pub 516.
Again with this site, the B-5 zoning will allow greater flexibility, said Bowling Green Planning Director Heather Sayler.
“It’s really difficult to do much with B-2,” given the irregular shapes of the lots and the lack of parking, Sayler said.
The addition of more B-5 zoned properties to the stretch of East Wooster Street between Bowling Green State University and the downtown area is great news to Sayler.
“This fills in the corridor nicely,” she said Wednesday evening. “It builds upon a vibrant downtown. We’re excited filling in this piece of the B-5 corridor.”
Nearly every parcel on Wooster Street between BGSU and the downtown is now B-5, except for one residence, Taco Bell, a Butt Hut shop and the city electric division building.
“They embrace the B-5 zoning changes,” Sayler said of all the other sites.
Planning commission member Judy Ennis praised the planning staff for focusing on the city’s land use values with the zoning changes.
“This rezoning request clearly meets several goals of the Land Use Plan, along with the wishes of the university and city to create a vibrant corridor between the university and downtown,” the planning office report stated. “Creating a vibrant area not only increases the economic vitality of the community as a whole, but also helps to attract additional visitors and potential staff, faculty and students to the university when the cohesiveness of community is clearly evident.”
The B-5 zoning is the newest classification in Bowling Green’s zoning regulations. The zoning is designed to meet seven principles of:
- Making positive, appealing first impressions.
- Having a strong business base.
- Offering a broad housing spectrum.
- “Good neighbor” neighborhoods.
- Easy access to health and fitness.
- Highly livable urban form.
- Local flavor and character.
Unlike most other zoning categories, B-5 zoning allows mixed uses by permitting dwelling units on the upper floors, yet specifically prohibits vehicle fueling stations, auto sales/service, tattoo parlors, and bars/taverns. Also, B-5 does not have any minimum setback or parking requirements, but does have a maximum height limit that keeps the buildings to two floors.
