By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Following a public hearing, with no public concerns expressed, Bowling Green City Council approved zoning changes for two properties on the city’s north end.
In January, the Bowling Green Planning Commission recommended that zoning be changed for two locations – one for a new fire station and the other for the former site of Poggemeyer Design Group.
The first change involved approximately five acres at 1215 W. Newton Road, just to the east of the Bowling Green Community Center. The city requested that the zoning be changed from Innovation & Employment zoning to Institutional zoning to allow for the building of a new fire station and administrative offices for the city fire division.
Some trees on the acreage have been cleared to make way for the new fire station.
City voters passed a tax levy in November supporting the building of two new fire stations in Bowling Green. The other will be located at Carter Park, the Pearl Street station will be maintained, and the Court Street station will be demolished.
The fact that the levy won handily, was an indication that the public supports the new station planned on Newton Road, Bob McOmber, chairman of the planning commission said at that group’s January meeting.
The second rezoning request involved 5.8 acres at 1168 N. Main St., the former site of the Poggemeyer Design Group. The change from Commercial zoning to Innovation & Employment zoning will allow for greater flexibility in the use of the property – for example, permitting light industrial uses, BG Planning Director Heather Sayler explained.
Founded in 1968, Poggemeyer Design Group provided a full suite of design services and disciplines, including engineering (water and wastewater, transportation, civil, structural, forensic, mechanical, and electrical), surveying, architecture, planning, environmental operations services, construction management, and project finance consulting.
Its success was evident in the sprawling office building constructed in the 1990s on North Main Street in Bowling Green, to house its 120 employees.
Since then the property has been occupied by Kleinfelder Group, which acquired Poggemeyer Design Group and its subsidiaries in 2020. Kleinfelder is an engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm.
As agent for the petitioners, Rex Huffman said the broader Innovation & Employment zoning will give the owners a better chance at finding another use to generate revenue for Bowling Green there.
Also at the meeting, City Council amended and adopted an ordinance tightening some rules for nuisances on properties and loosening some rules for RVs parked at residences.
A change regarding recreational vehicles was proposed by council member Bill Herald, who said he frequently hears from residents about the current 10-day limitation not being enough time for RVs to be parked at residences while being winterized, getting ready for the year, and loading/unloading between trips.
After talking with the police chief, planning director and code enforcement staff, Herald said a decision was made to extend that limit to 14 days.
The portion of the ordinance on recreational vehicle storage states the following:
- No recreational vehicle, including boats, campers and RVs, can be parked within a front yard in a residential area in excess of 14 days per calendar year.
- Parked recreational vehicles may not have fixed connections to electricity, water, gas or sanitary sewer facilities.
- No recreational vehicle shall be used for living, sleeping, or commercial purposes when parked on a residential lot, or in any location not approved for such use.
According to council member Jeff Dennis, other changes in the ordinance will result in a step forward for housing enforcement in the city.
“Improving the quality of our housing and neighborhoods and holding all property owners to the same basic standards are among the top concerns I hear from the constituents I represent,” he stated. “These issues affect every member of our community, whether you’re a retired homeowner or a college renter.”
The changes in the ordinance mark the first time in more than two decades that the city has increased civil penalties for property owners who fail to meet basic health and safety standards.
“Trash on the front lawn every weekend or an absentee landlord who can’t be bothered to fix a broken window doesn’t just affect one parcel – it undermines the progress of an entire block,” Dennis stated.
These issues are all too common today, he added, and penalties that were reasonable in 2005 no longer serve as a meaningful deterrent.
“If we’re serious about strengthening our neighborhoods and attracting and retaining more families and businesses, we need to strengthen the provisions of our code that hold property owners accountable for neglected properties and nuisance conditions,” Dennis stated. “This legislation is a reasonable and long-overdue step toward that goal.”
Also at Monday’s meeting:
- Brian O’Connell, the city’s utilities and infrastructure director, reported that the city’s electric division recently received the highest safety award presented during a public power conference in Washington, D.C.
- Mayor Mike Aspacher praised those involved with the BG Winterfest on Saturday. “The people of Bowling Green really enjoy their festivals,” the mayor said.
- Annual reports were presented by BG Planning Director Heather Sayler, and BG Chamber of Commerce and VisitBG Director Mary Hinkelman. Information from those reports will be posted later in BG Independent News.
