By Jane Maiolo
A debate over whether the City of Perrysburg or Perrysburg Township has the right to determine zoning for a future Wal-Mart store in the township prompted the trustees to consider legal advice at their March 5 meeting.
The trustees are at odds with city officials over which zoning code should be enforced for Wal-Mart. The store will be built on Simmons Road near U.S. Route 20, but will receive sanitary sewer service from the city.
Complicating the issue is the 99-year agreement signed by both entities in 2001. The agreement is not specific with regard to issues of zoning, but does give the city the right to provide sanitary services in certain township areas where the city controls the water supply. In exchange, the city agreed not to annex those parcels.
According to township administrator John Hrosko, zoning issues were not a problem until about a year ago, when the city began to enforce its own zoning code over the township's.
In the Wal-Mart case, the township had approved the zoning and directed the company to obtain a building permit from Wood County. Mr. Hrosko said Wal-Mart officials obtained the permit, but were informed by the city that to receive sanitary services they needed to meet Perrysburg's zoning requirements.
Last week, Wal-Mart officials relented and agreed to pay the city $21,000 in zoning permit fees.
The township administrator said a problem also has arisen with Best Buy, which plans to build a retail center on U.S. Route 20 next to Lowe's.
The company met the township zoning and fire department regulations only to be told by the city that they need additional fire hydrants, said Mr. Hrosko.
Trustee Bob Mack said the entire issue stems from the 99-year agreement, noting that city and township officials interpret the document differently.
He said the issue is impacting business and residential development. "Basically, they [businesses] have two masters to adhere to with zoning compliance."
Mr. Mack said he would like to meet with city officials and work out the discrepancies.
Trustee Craig LaHote agreed. "There's too much uncertainty. We need to keep working on this and get it resolved."
Mr. LaHote added that he would like to see the process, cost and other issues "nailed down" so development can move forward.
Trustee Gary Britten expressed his dissatisfaction with Perrysburg officials. "I don't agree with what they're doing. In my opinion Perrysburg is not willing to grant us time to work through this."
In a telephone interview last Friday, Mr. Hrosko said he has arranged a public meeting with Perrysburg officials and is hopeful that through dialogue, the two entities can resolve the problem. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m., Friday, March 30 at the township meeting hall.
Records Committee
Prior to the regular board meeting, the Records Committee met and agreed to place a record request with the Wood County Historical Society to donate obsolete township site plan reviews and site maps to neighboring entities that have annexed the affected parcels into their jurisdictions.
Zoning inspector/administrator Grant Garn said more than 50 documents will be sent to Perrysburg, adding that a few also will be forwarded to Rossford. The documents date from 1960 to 2006.
"The city [Perrysburg] has expressed an interest in having these documents," said Mr. Garn.
Buck Road Bridge
The trustees discussed the issue of widening the Buck Road bridge east of Bates Road to three lanes. Mr. Britten said the Wood County engineer's office plans to widen the bridge by five feet but maintain it as two lanes.
He believes that with construction of the new Penta Career Center at Lime City and Buck roads, the bridge should be widened to three lanes and said he would like the county to fund the improvements.
"I'd like us to write a letter," he said, adding that the county engineer has begun design work on a widened, two-lane bridge.
Mr. Britten, who also serves as the county road supervisor, offered to speak with the commissioners about the issue.
In a telephone interview last Thursday, Mr. Mack said he was not convinced that traffic would be greatly increased with completion of the new high school. He noted that most students will use Lime City Road and the interstate.
He also pointed out that the area around the Buck/Bates Road intersection is "fully developed" with subdivisions like Belmont.
"I don't think there is enough open land in the area to warrant growth," he said.
Mr. Mack added that he doesn't mind seeking funds from the commissioners, but doesn't want to spend township money for the bridge.
Other Business
In other business, the trustees:
- Updated a 1980 resolution on the placement of buoys in the Maumee River at the request of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft.
The amended resolution states that the township will assume "all responsibility for the placing and the maintenance of all navigational buoys within its jurisdiction."
- Hired recreation director Bob Warnimont on a part-time basis. The trustees deemed that it was more feasible to employ Mr. Warnimont part-time than to continue his status as a private contractor.
As the recreation director he works 10 hours each week, and his annual salary will remain the same at $5,000.
Mr. Warnimont is responsible for the upkeep of playground equipment , ballfields and shelter houses. He also coordinates activities at the ballfield, applies for park grants and schedules the food give-away and recycling programs.
- Agreed to send two police officers to a training seminar on "Combatting Major Crimes" at a cost of $902.12. The seminar will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2-6.
- Approved a request for $1,000 from Mr. Warnimont. The funds will be used toward the township and City of Perrysburg's joint Recycling Roundup on Saturday, April 3. Residents will be charged a per pound fee to dispose of a variety of items including, household chemicals, paint, and computers, said Mr. Warnimont.
