By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council moved ahead on two development projects Monday evening – one creating a 117-house subdivision on the north side of the city and the other adding a roundabout on the east side of the city.
The city has received a $1 million Residential Economic Development District program grant to support the planned development of 117 workforce housing lots to be named Green Acres Subdivision.
The grant was part of $14 million in grants to support the creation of workforce housing in 10 counties. According to the announcement: “This project supports housing demand created by investments by Amazon and others.”
The development is planned in the northwest corner of the intersection of Brim and Bishop roads. The funding will be used to extend water and sewer lines to the subdivision.
“This is a fantastic opportunity,” Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter said after Monday’s meeting. “Spurring housing developments has long been a goal of council and the mayor.”
The grant timeline is fast. It was awarded on Oct. 1, and is to be constructed in 2027. So that work can proceed quickly, the ordinance was given one reading Monday evening, with two readings and emergency clause requested for the Nov. 2 meeting.
Also Monday evening, City Council declared an emergency, held all three readings, and approved an ordinance proceeding with plans for a roundabout at the intersection of East Wooster Street and Dunbridge Road. The ordinance authorizes the municipal administrator and utilities director to sign an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation and advertise for bids and enter into contracts for design, engineering, right of way acquisition, construction, and other services relating to the roundabout.
The city submitted a successful Congestion Mitigation Air Quality funding application last year for the installation of the roundabout. A shared use path will also be constructed on the north side of Wooster Street along the Meijer frontage.
The funding will cover approximately 80% of the construction cost. The project is slated for construction in 2029.
In other business at Monday’s meeting,
- Mayor Mike Aspacher said construction of the city’s two new fire stations is moving “fairly rapidly.” He hopes to have a building model to present to City Council soon. The stations are “on schedule and on budget,” the major said.
- BG Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mary Hinkelman showed council members the recent award earned by the Visit BG website: https://bgindependentmedia.org/visit-bg-wins-ruby-award-for-new-website/. Hinkelman said the chamber already has a full lineup for the annual holiday parade to be held Nov. 22. Sponsorships and volunteers are still needed, she said.
- Tretter announced that the city’s Director of Utilities and Infrastructure Brian O’Connell was recently named board chairman of the 2026 American Municipal Power organization. O’Connell is recognized as a “consensus builder” in the industry, she said. “This is a proud moment for us in Bowling Green,” Tretter said.
- Council member Jeff Dennis submitted 17 amendments to the proposed ordinance for a vacant building enforcement program. The amendments and the ordinance will be reviewed at the next council meeting.
- A public hearing was set for Nov. 2, at 6 p.m., for a zoning request to change a residential lot at 903 N. Main St., from pedestrian residential zoning to medium density residential zoning.
- City Engineer Brad Holman presented a list of sidewalk and street improvements completed this year, and projected in future years. That list will appear in a later story.
