Bowling Green · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bowling Green public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Residential driveway-widening variances and off-street parking
The city caps driveway width at the width of the garage (here 20 feet). Fretz asked for a 4-foot overage to keep his growing family's cars off the street. The board found the modest request didn't harm the neighborhood's character.
Fence height measurement from grade before mounding
The city measures fence height from the original grade, not after a homeowner adds dirt — so backfilling doesn't fix an over-height fence. The Yohe case shows how easy it is to run afoul of this rule and how sympathetic boards can be when a contractor, not the owner, causes the problem.
Commercial building height minimum on South Main Street
The 25-foot minimum height for commercial buildings is tripping up national chains like Chipotle that build shorter standard prototypes. The board wrestled with whether corporate cost savings count as a 'practical difficulty' — and ultimately said no.
Sign size standards for multi-tenant commercial plazas
A new Jersey Mike's/Wingstop building at 1502 East Wooster has an old, weathered pylon sign the owners want to reface, but the 2023 zoning code caps multi-tenant buildings at two signs per business. The board confirmed the planning director read the code correctly, leaving the owners to either live with the sign or sue in common pleas court. Neighbors may notice the faded pylon stays for now.
Accessory uses zoning amendment
A long-pending ordinance updating rules for storing RVs at homes — plus civil offense classifications — was delayed again so council can review recent changes before a March 2 vote.
Historical plaque program
The commission selected Franklin Bronze Plaques after a review committee scored submissions, and a contract is being finalized. Plaque designs may be ready by the next meeting.
Commissioner retirement and east-side residency requirement
Longtime commissioner Wil Roudebush retires in May, and his replacement must live east of Main Street — a rule some members question since preservation serves the whole city. Changing it would require City Council action, and the ordinance also requires at least two professionals on the commission.
Zoning code text amendments (Chapter 150)
The city is updating its zoning code to work with digital permit applications instead of paper, and fixing real policy issues: sheds can't sit in front-yard setbacks anymore, feather banner signs would be allowed as temporary signs, vision clearance triangles get measured from the right-of-way edge, and bright signs would have to follow outdoor lighting limits. Public hearing April 1 — your chance to comment.
RV storage and civil fines ordinance
The adopted changes to Ordinance 9339 raise civil fines and give residents 14 days instead of 10 to store a recreational vehicle in a front-yard driveway.
West Newton Road rezoning (4.979 acres)
Nearly 5 acres on West Newton Road would shift from Innovation & Employment to Institutional zoning; the vote waits for a March 2 public hearing.
Kermit's restaurant historic designation
Kermit's, a beloved 75-plus-year-old breakfast institution, may become a local historic site — the owner supports it, and the commission will start by featuring it as a building of the month.