By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Silver Birch, a 120-unit assisted living facility, got the green light from Bowling Green City Council Tuesday night for its rezoning request.
The 22-acre site at South Dunbridge Road and Expressway Drive, just south of the new QuikTrip facility, was unanimously approved to be rezoned from Interstate Commercial to Institutional.
The zoning request was submitted by Vermillion Development on behalf of Whitson Properties, the landowner.
The Bowling Green Planning Commission had previously recommended approval of the zoning change. (Planning Commission story is available here.)
After Councilmember Jeff Dennis asked about buffering between the facility and QuikTrip, Marcus LeVigne of Vermillion Development informed council that the company is proposing buffering around the building, “in the form of landscape berms and year-round vegetation around the building, just to prevent any screening issues with land uses that aren’t compatible are as compatible as our proposed use.
“I look forward to voting in favor of this,” Dennis said during the public hearing. “The fact that they are voluntarily undertaking the additional screening suggests to me that they’re going to be good neighbors, which I think is an added bonus,” in addition to the 120 new units of housing with Medicaid eligibility, 50 to 55 full-time employees and an annual payroll in the millions of dollars.
After the meeting, LeVigne said the rezoning approval allows the company to move forward on acquiring permits and other steps that need to be completed before construction can begin. They hope to open the facility sometime in 2027.
Council also approved a resolution declaring the necessity and intention of appropriating property owned by Bentwood Estates LTD for the Crim Shared-Use Path project.
The city successfully completed negotiations for all necessary properties except for the Bentwood Estates property. The emergency declaration was approved to keep the project on schedule.
The project will construct a shared-use path from Crim Elementary School to Mercer Road. The project, which received funds from the Safe Routes to Schools program, is expected to be constructed in 2027.
BG SONG continues outreach
Rose Drain, representing BG SONG (Save Our Neighborhoods Group), reported the organization put together 2,200 door hanger packets as part of its “Lease and Peace” project to distribute rental resource information in the community.
To date, 46 volunteers have helped distribute the packets to all but six of the 19 planned routes, “which is a great testament to the power of volunteers,” Drain said.
There are still approximately 600 packets that need to be delivered on the remaining six routes. She asked council and city representatives to consider “walking six, eight or 10 blocks” to help with distribution.
Included in the packet are a “We’re Glad You’re Here” business-card message, the city’s Good Neighbor Guide, BGSU Student Legal Services and the city’s Landlord-Tenant Relations pamphlet, BG SONG’s housing survey and information sheet, and a bookmark with resources from People of Engagement Bowling Green and BG SONG.
Lori Young, a professor in the BGSU School of Art, helped develop the survey/information sheet. “She saw a need for her students to have somewhere to go when they had questions about planning to rent, looking at a lease critically, about what to do when they had issues with their rental place and how to find help with issues,” Drain explained
In other business, council:
- Failed to get a second on Councilmember Bill Herald’s two motions to table an ordinance until the first or second council meeting in October and Council President Greg Hollenbaugh’s motion to approve the ordinance to reallocate tax funds to provide needed additional funding for street repairs.
- Approved the appointment of Martha Woelke as interim finance director. Woelke, who retired from the city in December 2025, was asked to return to “provide leadership and oversight as we navigate hiring a finance director,” said Mayor Mike Aspacher.
- Passed an ordinance for sidewalk repairs by special assessment as an emergency after two property owners have failed to meet the financial obligation for the assessment. With the council’s approval, the collection project can begin, which is necessary to meet the Wood County Auditor’s next filing deadline.
- Heard thanks from West Merry resident Faith Elsea for the sewer improvements that resolved the issue she had previously brought to council’s attention of the flooding at the intersection of Merry and Fairview Ave. “I think it’s safe to say that the bulk of the credit goes to the administration for jumping in and solving that,” Council President Mark Hollenbaugh told Elsea.
- Approved a resolution authorizing the city to participate in the local park improvement grant program, to apply and accept grant funding if the grant application is approved.
