Perrysburg, township try to sort zoning differences
7/19/2006Perrysburg and Perrysburg Township both have an interest in seeing how development proceeds in the area and are working out differences in their zoning and review processes.
Mayor Nelson Evans told council last week that the first discussion went well and another meeting would be scheduled soon.
Township Administrator John Hrosko agreed.
"It was pretty fruitful, I thought," he said.
The meetings were set after the city froze two of the requirements of its new municipal utility overlay district. Those requirements are that developers seeking water and sewer service from the city do a marketing study and go through a special approval process, including a hearing before council, in addition to a site-plan review.
The requirements give the city some measure of control over development outside its borders, but township officials don't want potential developments driven away by extra regulations. They asked for the moratorium when representatives from the proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter, on U.S. 20 in the township, balked at the city's special approval process.
"We're just trying to work together," Mr. Hrosko said.
The moratorium expires Oct. 31, by which point officials hope to have worked out a pact on aspects of their planning processes. Those include comprehensive plans, consistent policies on access management and on development along the U.S. 20 and State Rt. 25 corridors, and responsibility for overseeing site plans, said Bob Mack, chairman of the township trustees.
Mr. Mack said the city's site plan review of projects in the township doesn't mean it can require a market study or be too picky about architectural details.
"That's for our planning commission to decide in our township," he said.
The township has an overlay district along U.S. 20 that specifies landscaping and building setbacks. Mr. Mack said the city and township overlays should be similar.
Tim McCarthy, chairman of council's planning and zoning committee, said that if the city decides to consider changes to the city's zoning code, it will need to hold public hearings.