PERRYSBURG, Ohio — A 24-acre plot of land off Eckel Junction Road is open for commercial business, bringing the conversation surrounding a possible Topgolf venue in Perrysburg back for another round.
A unanimous 'yes' vote by city council members Tuesday, Nov. 19 approved changing the zoning of four parcels, owned by Bethel Assembly of God, from a residential lot to a commercial one.
The city said the change could bring in several new businesses, such as auto shops, grocery stores and sports and entertainment centers.
So, does that mean Topgolf?
"I don't know," said Tim McCarthy, one of Perrysburg's city council members. "I have heard the same rumor, but I've not been part of any discussions with Topgolf. "
WTOL 11 previously reported back in September that both Perrysburg and the city of Rossford were candidates for a potential future home for the golf complex.
Perrysburg small business owner, Kelli Wolf of Hand & Stone, is behind the idea of having one in town. She said it will help the city and the local school district, which saw voters turn down a third straight levy during the past election.
"With the levy not passing, that was something that did fuel this a little bit more," said Wolf. "Everyone is looking for those tax dollars. As a business owner, we're bringing those tax dollars to the area and there are a lot of residents, so we want to make sure there is a balance."
However not everyone is on board. Anna Prochazka, a resident who lives near the property, said she's concerned with what happens next.
"The traffic, the lighting, the noise," said Prochazka. "It's a quiet community. It's smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood, so when my husband and I bought this house at the end of July, we knew this was zone residential. It was nothing we had to worry about. "
For now, the new zoning structure currently allows the space to become one, but for now that's speculation.