By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Zoning variances for a heavy equipment rental business were approved last week, with some stipulations tacked on to make sure the business will be a good neighbor in Bowling Green.
The Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday agreed to two variance requests for a Tuffman Equipment Rental site in Woodbridge Business Park on the east side of Bowling Green. The business is planned for the northwest corner of East Wooster Street at the new entrance to the business park called Woodgate Drive.
The equipment rental will offer items like excavators, dump trucks, backhoes and mowers, according to Dave Spear, the developer with NCO Properties.
Bowling Green Planning Director Heather Sayler explained the two variance requests, which would allow:
- Construction of a six-foot tall fence on the lot frontage on East Wooster Street. That is two feet higher than permitted.
- Construction of an aggregate pavement area for staging of equipment, loading and unloading, plus display area. The city’s zoning code requires a hard, dustless surface.
Troy Sonner, of Energy Land and Infrastructure, and Spear explained the need for the six-foot fencing as a security measure.
“There will be a lot of high dollar construction equipment on site,” Spear said.
Plans call for heavy equipment to be lined up for display along East Wooster Street, “so potential customers can see it,” Spear said.
The Zoning Board of Appeals approved the variance for the fencing. However, board members had more concerns about allowing an aggregate lot instead of asphalt or concrete for the equipment parking area to the west of the Tuffman building.
Spear explained that the metal tracks of bulldozers and other equipment would tear up the pavement, and the pavement would tear up the metal tracks.
But the Zoning Board of Appeals members voiced concerns about the dust generated by the equipment since the parking area is planned to the east of the Meijer store and parking lot, and near other manufacturing businesses in Woodbridge.
Board member Dave Pfleger suggested that the developer be required to plant a double row of arborvitae to the west and north of the gravel parking for the heavy equipment. The board agreed to require the buffer, and Spear agreed to the stipulation.
