Bowling Green · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bowling Green public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Rezoning Denial
Bowling Green officials denied a rezoning request in a planned residential zone, siding with neighbors who want to preserve the area’s character. If you live nearby, this decision directly affects what can—and can’t—be built next door.
Former South Main School listed for sale
After years of silence, the owner of the old South Main School finally replied to the commission's letters — but sidestepped the idea of local historic designation, instead asking about tax credits and repair grants. The property's fate remains on hold.
City Council Election
Local official Rettig is defending his record on the city council as upcoming local elections approach. This defense gives voters a clear look at what the current council stands for and how they plan to run Bowling Green.
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.
Vacant building enforcement program
City Council is considering an ordinance requiring registration of vacant buildings with steep fines, aimed at pushing owners to reuse empty structures. The commission discussed it but took no position, noting historic-but-undesignated buildings like the Corner Grill could be affected.
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.
Callery pear removal and replacement on Wren
Twenty-six invasive Callery pear trees along Wren Road will be removed and replaced this fall. Residents along the street will get advance notice by door hangers and a press release.
Street tree care outreach to residents
A resident-led climate action group is partnering with the city to launch a 'Leave the Leaves' project on October 21 at Simpson Garden Park, encouraging residents to leave leaf litter for wildlife and soil health.
Historic/notable tree map and database
The Commission is building a map and database of historic and notable trees, aiming for a Spring 2027 kickoff. Residents may be asked to nominate trees via an online portal.
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.
Capital projects pipeline 2026-2031
Brian O'Connell updated council on major utility work: pump stations, the Wallace Avenue water/sewer replacement, wastewater clarifiers, and electric circuit and substation projects across the city.
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.
Campbell Hill Road resurfacing
An ordinance was read to set up the Campbell Hill Road resurfacing project, planned for 2031, from Carter Park to Wooster with a shared-use path to Scott Hamilton.
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.
AMP board leadership and public power
The city's electric division earned the highest-level diamond safety award, and officials lobbied in D.C. about rising capacity and transmission costs, data-center grid impacts, and permitting delays.
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.
Ward redistricting
A Committee of the Whole before the meeting narrowed roughly two dozen submitted ward maps down to three finalists; legislation with the final map is expected at the October 5 meeting. Two public forums gathered resident input.
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.
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.
Property Taxes
Council formally accepted the Budget Commission's rates and certified the city's tax levies to the county auditor — the routine step that keeps property tax funding flowing.
Finance Committee cancelled
The quarterly finance update was cancelled because the city still has no full-time Finance Director, and budget season will bring the numbers anyway.
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.
Community Development Programs Update
The commission's grant application window is now open until November 30. The call went out in BG Independent on Oct. 1 and city social media, and local groups have a month to apply.
Multifaith Breakfast set for March 2027
The annual Multifaith Breakfast returns March 10, 2027, at the Veterans Memorial Building at City Park. Planning meetings will follow regular commission meetings, and volunteers are being recruited.
Not In Our Town community conversations
A survey on what role NIOT should play in Bowling Green drew 63 responses, now under review. Upcoming meeting details are coming.
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.
Substation transformer replacement planning
The aging transformers at the Bishop, Poe, and Gipsy substations need replacing, but new units may take six years or longer to manufacture. Planning is starting now so reliability isn't compromised down the road.
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.
Poe/Mercer Pump Station screen replacement
Council approved a funding agreement with the state loan programs to design and build replacement screens at the Poe/Mercer Pump Station — upkeep of the wastewater system.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Permit compliance by contractors in Tucson Springs subdivision
Multiple board members flagged that contractors building in the growing Tucson Springs area aren't pulling permits for patios and pads, leaving new homeowners in violation without knowing it. The board suggested the city remind the contractor of permit rules to prevent repeat cases.
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.
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.
Wind turbine decommissioning
Four turbines at the landfill will be removed by year-end under a ~$1.7–1.8 million AMP contract already funded — no rate increase expected.
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.
Regional Law Enforcement Education and Training Center
New legislation launched a joint city-BGSU law enforcement training center, with a joint use agreement and construction contracts introduced.
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.
Sidewalk and pedestrian infrastructure program
Council adopted an emergency ordinance for sidewalk repairs paid through special assessments on benefiting properties.
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.
Surveillance Cameras
Bowling Green is weighing the installation of Flock safety cameras, which could shake up how local police operate and what it means for your personal privacy. It's a classic debate between catching criminals and keeping tabs on everyday citizens.