By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
An ordinance tightening rules for nuisances on properties and loosening rules for RVs parked at residences will be heard by Bowling Green City Council on March 2.
The ordinance had its third reading by council on Tuesday evening, but a last minute change led the legislation to be tabled until next month.
The change 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.
“That ought to help some people,” Herald said.
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.
After the meeting, council member Jeff Dennis submitted information to BG Independent News about the ordinance being 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.”
If adopted, the legislation currently before council would 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 wrote.
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 wrote. “This legislation is a reasonable and long-overdue step toward that goal.”
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, City Council authorized that bids be advertised for the lease of city acreage for agricultural purposes. The current three-year contracts for the properties will expire at the end of 2026.
Following is a list of the available acreage:
- 6 acres on Van Camp Road, east of Brim Road.
- 34.17 acres at the northwest corner of West Poe Road and Green Road.
- 19.15 acres on Napoleon Road, east of Dunbridge Road.
- 14.02 acres on Bishop Road, east of Brim Road.
- 14.23 acres on King Road (west).
- 28.39 acres on King Road (east).
- 72.06 acres at the northeast corner of Hull Prairie Road and Ovitt Road.
- 36.18 acres at the southwest corner of West River Road and Forst Road.
Some of these properties are located in industrial business parks on acreage not yet being used. If a property is sold for development purposes, the contract will allow the property to be removed from the lease. To be fair to the farmers, the city will compensate them for their costs if they are unable to harvest their crops.
Also at the meeting, council:
- Learned the sustainability committee of City Council will meet Feb. 23, at 5 p.m., to finalize sustainability priorities for 2026.
- Set two public hearings for requested zoning changes on March 2, at 6:30 p.m. One request involves the rezoning of 5 acres on West Newton Road from innovation and employment zoning to institutional, for the new fire station. The other involves nearly 6 acres at 1168 N. Main St. – the former Poggemeyer Design Group site – from commercial to innovation and employment zoning.
- Passed a resolution adopting an amended Federal Transit Administration Title VI program, which ensures compliance with federal non-discrimination requirements in all transit services.
