City holds public hearing on rezoning request for 416 West Wooster Street

Bowling Green City Council opened a public hearing on Ordinance 9,260, a request to rezone approximately 0.307 acres at 416 West Wooster Street from Pedestrian Residential (PR) to R2 Medium Density Residential.

Planning Director Heather Sailor told council that staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval, noting the request would allow a two‑unit dwelling where PR does not permit two units. "One of the main differences ... is allowing a 2 unit dwelling in the R2 versus the PR," Sailor said, and she emphasized the property ‘‘meets the recommendation of the future land use map’’ and the city’s seven Bowling Green principles.

The applicant’s attorney, Tom Botsberger, and project manager Sean Brennan said the owner aims to restore the long‑vacant historic building and convert it for residential use rather than see it demolished. Botsberger said the owner "has invested a great deal of time, money, energy and finances into this project," and described the rezoning as necessary to make the restoration economically feasible. Brennan, the project manager, said the house has been gutted and estimated the building previously contained multiple bedrooms; he characterized conversion to two units as an adaptive reuse that would preserve the exterior and much of the building’s character.

Neighbors who testified urged denial. Emily Denopace, who lives across the street, said she opposed the rezoning…