Perrysburg Township: Public meeting set on zoning rules

7/8/2004

With two new subdivisions set to go and a third moving toward final approval, Perrysburg Township is experiencing another wave of residential growth.

Residents have criticized and praised the proposed subdivisions, and the township trustees are preparing to take a hard look at zoning regulations that will guide development.

The trustees will hold a public meeting about zoning rules on July 19.

"It will be a very spirited debate," trustee chairman Bob Mack said. "We're anxious to hear from our constituents about what they want."

Last week, the trustees OK'd a 52-unit planned unit development called Stone Gate Villas at Bennett Ranch. The subdivision, made up of four-unit villas, is proposed for about 10.6 acres just east of Thompson Road where Eckel Junction Road ends.

More than a dozen Thompson residents attended the trustees' meeting last week, and several spoke publicly about the project.

Some residents are concerned about the density of the subdivision and the traffic that development would bring on overburdened roads. Others said they liked the plans.

Another controversial planned unit development is Emerald Lakes, a development with 184 single-family homes proposed for 56.6 acres south of Eckel Junction. The trustees gave preliminary approval to the subdivision plan last month.

The developer revised the Emerald Lakes plan several times, reducing the density and adding more green space.

While some residents applauded the reduced density, others told trustees the township should include affordable housing and were concerned that adding green space would drive up costs for the homes.

"We talked to lots of people who don't want a place with high

costs to maintain," trustee Craig LaHote said. "The more green space there is, the higher the cost is to maintain it."

Stone Gate Villas and Emerald Lakes have densities below the six housing units per acre allowed by the township's zoning code for planned unit developments.

Mr. LaHote said the density rule for planned unit developments will be a focus of the July 19 meeting.

"I look at the density number in our code and a development that reached that number would be awfully tight," Mr. LaHote said.

The third subdivision on the way is Eckel Trace, located south of Eckel Junction and east of State Rt. 199. The trustees granted a zoning change so the development could move forward.

Plans for Eckel Trace call for 115 single-family homes on 48.9 acres. The design includes extending Carronade Drive so that it meets Rt. 199.

Area officials hope to eventually close the intersection of Rt. 199 and Eckel Junction and reroute traffic to Carronade. The plan has drawn complaints from some residents, especially those who live along Carronade and fear that more traffic will make their yards unsafe.