Bowling Green · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bowling Green public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Downtown Facade Enhancement Grant
The city's facade grant program was fully subscribed this year, helping fix up downtown buildings including the Masonic Temple. The commission will ask for funding again next year.
Potential Local Historic Designations — Hanna House and Boom Town areas
The commission is weighing whether the Boom Town area along West Wooster should become a locally designated historic district. Supporters want to protect the street's large historic homes from demolition; skeptics worry about piling regulations on owners who are already fixing up homes voluntarily. Next step: a letter asking individual homeowners if they'd want voluntary designation for their own houses.
USDA-IRA Urban and Community Canopy Grant tree planting
The federal grant-funded tree planting program continues, but new planting applications will only be accepted through the end of funding in 2027. Residents who want a tree planted should apply soon.
Public Safety Infrastructure
Construction on the new fire stations starts this week; Carter Park gets a temporary entrance while its road layout is rebuilt, and groundbreaking will be announced soon.
903 North Main Street rezone
A .238-acre parcel at 903 North Main Street would be rezoned from Pedestrian-Residential to Medium Density Residential. The public hearing is November 2, so neighbors can weigh in before any final vote.
Community concerns about AI and data centers
A resident announced a community AI walkout event raising concerns about AI's impact on jobs, healthcare and schools, balanced with acknowledgment of AI benefits like the city's new chatbot.
Wooster-Dunbridge roundabout project
Council committed the city to applying for federal ODOT funds for a roundabout — which means building it if awarded. Herald argued the ~$1 million local match is money better spent on basic street repairs.
Zoning Code Overhaul Awaiting Public Hearing
The city is fine-tuning its zoning code after its recent overhaul — mostly moving permits to a digital process, but residents will notice feather banners becoming legal as temporary signs, new lighting rules for signs, and a ban on small sheds in front yards. City Council gets the final say.
$1 Million State Grant for Water and Sewer Lines
All six city projects nominated for Ohio EPA wastewater loans made the agency's 2026 funding list. Four are in design or engineering; construction activity is expected at the Portage Mercer Pump Station. Nominations reserve a spot for loan money without obligating the city to borrow.
Stone Ridge subdivision expansion
A 72-lot, 23-acre expansion of the Stone Ridge subdivision along South Mitchell Road cleared its first hurdle. It extends St. Andrews Drive and will eventually get a Mitchell Road entrance — more rooftops and traffic coming to that corridor.
Poe/Mercer pump station odor control
Four screens at the pump station are worn out and need replacing at an estimated $4 million, funded through a state low-interest loan. Recent improvements have already eased the odor problems neighbors noticed.
Local historic register nomination — 504 S. Main St.
Jan Knape's 130-year-old Queen Anne Victorian could join the Local Historic Register with a Historic Overlay Zoning layer. The commission recommended it unanimously; council makes the final call after a public hearing. Knape is also encouraging neighbors to seek designations.
Public Transit Change
The adopted resolution lets the city apply for federal and state transit grants — funding that could support public transportation operations and capital projects.
2.95-mill Parks and Recreation Levy
Parks Director Kristin Otley reported over 1,100 kids in summer programs, a master plan survey wrapping up with a November report, and upcoming events like Winterfest and the Leave the Leaves partnership.
Tree trimming and electric line clearance funding
The utility is falling behind on keeping trees off power lines despite spending $112,000 of a $175,000 budget this year. A full-year crew could cost $250,000–$300,000 in the 2027 budget, and that will factor into future utility rates. Better line clearance should mean fewer outages.
Proposed federal Section 106 revisions
Proposed federal rule changes would strip local commissions of their right to review federal projects affecting historic places, and make public comment optional. The commission will decide next month whether to write legislators or ask council for a proclamation.
Two new fire stations
Groundbreaking for the two new fire stations is September 29 at 2 p.m. near Carter Park — the public is invited.
Electric rate increase and rate stabilization borrowing
The city will borrow up to $7.4 million from American Municipal Power to stabilize electric rates and meet debt coverage requirements while phasing in its rate study recommendations — aimed at lower, more predictable bill increases.
Electric rate stabilization agreement
The city will borrow up to $7.4 million from American Municipal Power to stabilize electric rates and meet debt coverage requirements while phasing in its rate study recommendations — aimed at lower, more predictable bill increases.
Economic development pipeline
Economic Development Director Kati Thompson reported active prospects that could bring hundreds of jobs — including Project Sprint, a tier-one auto supplier considering 400+ jobs — plus the upcoming Abbott project still waiting on a start date and Cooper Standard's planned 2027 exit.
Regional Law Enforcement Education and Training Center
The city and BGSU are officially partners on a regional law enforcement training center. Council adopted the joint use agreement and the contracts to design and build it, moving the project from paper to construction.
North Main Street shared-use path
Council used its emergency power to start appropriating Bentwood Estates property for the Crim Shared Use Path after negotiations failed, keeping the trail project on schedule.
Rezoning 22 acres at Dunbridge Road and Expressway Drive
Council finalized a rezoning of about 22 acres from Interstate Commercial to Institutional, aligning the zoning map with the 2014 Land Use Plan. This shapes what can be built near the interstate interchange.
Residential solar system size limits
A 10-12 megawatt solar project will be built and operated by eTree Foundry under a power purchase agreement — the city pays only for power produced, with estimated costs of 5-7 cents per kilowatt hour. It replaces local renewable generation lost with the JV 6 wind project and uses local land, contractors, and possibly locally made panels.
Income tax reallocation for street repair
An ordinance to shift income tax dollars to street repair stalled when no one would second any motion on it. Road repair funding remains unresolved.
Short-Term Rental Regulations Adopted
7,222 rentals are registered with ~2,000 inspections received, and the new short-term rental program has 34 identified units with three registered so far.
Enforcement of school-zone traffic signal on Fairview Avenue
A temporary light and left-turn-only sign protect bus operations at the high school and middle school during construction, but drivers have started ignoring them. Certifying the devices lets police actually issue citations instead of just warnings.
Future of the former South Main School
The vacant former South Main School at 437 S. Main is for sale, and the commission wants to see it preserved rather than demolished. Members weighed asking the owner for local designation versus a broader South Main historic district — both depend on owner and neighbor buy-in.
Ohio EPA notice of violation at Water Treatment Plant
The city was cited by the EPA for orthophosphate dropping below required levels earlier this year — caused by a failing field test device. Officials say there was no health risk, the device was replaced with more accurate lab testing, and customers are being notified in their bills.
Water Rate Increase
Council members pressed staff on how the income tax reallocation affects future water and sewer rates, asking for updated figures and exploring whether increases could be tied to usage rather than fixed charges.
Accessory dwelling unit owner-occupancy rules
A corner lot vacant since 2019 will get a two-family ranch home instead of the big two-story boxes critics say are spreading through the neighborhood. Council member Herald tied it to the city's broader housing-diversity hardship.
Facility Upgrades
After the plant converted to 12 kV power, it lost its backup generator connection — risky if the grid goes down. The board approved a $500,000 contract with Power Secure Inc. to install the right transformer and get backup/peak-shaving power working again.
Rider E rooftop solar surcharge
Customer-owned solar customers will see their excess-generation credit rise from 7.5 to 9.5 cents/kWh, but the facilities charge drops 50% in 2026 and is phased out in 2027 as fixed customer charges rise to recover distribution costs. About 10-11 solar interconnection customers are affected.