Perrysburg Twp. unveils first draft at new zoning

Officials attempting to ordinate area that lacks current classification.

2/10/2014
BY MATT THOMPSON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Perrysburg Township officials today unveiled a first working draft of a map that attempts to zone about half the township that currently lacks any type of zoning classification.

The township is putting an initiative on the November ballot to zone all such properties the way they are currently used. To do so, Township Administrator Walt Celley and Zoning Administrator Kelly Hemminger have been working on a map to accurately zone the township.

Township officials at the zoning commission meeting Monday encouraged residents and business owners to come look at the map to make sure land is properly zoned. Mr. Celley said they would meet with any individuals that want to look over the map and discuss it.

"We need people to come and look at this map if they have property in Perrysburg Township, particularly business owners," Mr. Celley said.

A public hearing to review the zoning map is set for March 10 at 6 p.m. While Mr. Celley said it would be nice for residents and business owners to come in before that meeting, changes can continue to be made to the map until it is finalized and approved by the township trustees in May. 

Township voters rejected ballot issues to provide zoning to those areas in 1990 and 2002 elections.

The map is very much a work in progress, Mr. Celley said; another version will be coming out in the next few days that will more accurately represent the zoning. The current map has a few areas that are planned unit development and a mix of zoning classifications - those areas are expected to be changed to industrial and a few restaurants off State Rt. 795 are to be zoned commercial. 

About 80 to 90 percent of the township's unzoned area is slated to be zoned agriculture.

"We're trying to zone it the way it is used," said Rob Black, zoning commission chairman. "But we don't know if someone has a welding shop out back ... they will want it zoned differently."

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com, 419-356-8786, or on Twitter at @mthompson25.