Elections board clears Monclova petition

2/12/2005

A referendum petition filed by Monclova Township residents to force a vote on a zoning change for the Scrimshaw Village development yesterday cleared a hurdle on its way to the ballot.

The Lucas County Board of Elections held a hearing to listen to complaints about the petition filed by an attorney representing Miller Diversified, the firm proposing to develop Scrimshaw Village. The board ruled that the petition was valid and contained enough registered voter signatures to put the zoning change up for election.

The petition contained 296 valid signatures, according to the board of elections. It needed 239 to force the issue onto the ballot.

Now that the elections board has certified the petition, township officials must file a request to place the issue on the ballot. Harold Grim, township administrator, said he is not sure whether the zoning change will go before voters in the September primary election or the November general election.

The township trustees voted in December to change the zoning on almost 150 acres on the northwest corner of U.S. 20A and Albon Road to allow construction of Scrimshaw Village, a mixed-use development. The township changed the zoning from agricultural to a classification permitting planned unit developments with commercial and residential parts.

Plans call for about 350 single-family homes and single and double villa-style houses. The development would contain 33 acres of green space, including lakes and walking trails, and about five acres of commercial development along U.S. 20A.