The City of Findlay Planning Commission on July 10 voted to recommend approval of several initial-zoning requests tied to pending annexations, including three CD (condominium) zoning petitions and one M-2 (multifamily high density) request. The commission’s actions will be forwarded to Planning & Zoning and then to City Council for final readings.

Why it matters: The approvals set zoning for parcels that are currently in adjacent townships or are otherwise surrounded by the city; rezoning at annexation determines permitted uses and the review path for future site plans.

Items approved: (1) ZA-03-2025 — Keller Cypher Enterprises LLC: establish CD condominium zoning for Parcel 020001032373 (47-building, 94-unit condominium development). Staff recommended approval but noted four parcels along State Route 99 included in the annexation needed separate zoning to avoid leaving them unzoned on annexation. The applicant and staff discussed postponing zoning for the adjacent four parcels to allow proper notice and analysis; the commission approved the main parcel’s zoning.

(2) ZA-04-2025 — Northtown Condominium Villas: initial CD condominium zoning for Parcel 270001018031. Staff said the parcel has functioned as a condominium association for 25 years and recommended approval; the commission approved the request.

(3) ZA-05-2025 — Greenbrier Holdings, LTD and Moore Rentals: establish M-2 multifamily high density for 2800 South Main Street and an adjacent parcel (270000051430) upon annexation. Staff recommended approval, noting the parcels are already used for multifamily apartments and that city services would benefit response times.

(4) ZA-06-2025 — Hancock County Board (ADDMH): rezone 2449 and 2453 Grace Boulevard from R-3 small-lot residential to M-2 multifamily high density. The applicant said the rezoning was requested so the two duplex buildings could be treated as one property for building-code purposes (a connecting deck) without changing the use. Staff recommended approval; commissioners approved the recommendation.

Discussion versus decision: On the Keller Cypher parcel, planning staff and the applicant discussed notification and whether the four smaller parcels along 99 should have zoning assigned at annexation; staff advised those parcels should be zoned at annexation to avoid leaving them unzoned. On Greenbrier and Northtown, staff cited public-safety reasons (access to city fire and EMS) in favor of annexation and zoning.

Next steps: These recommendations will be heard by the city’s Planning & Zoning division and then by City Council (three readings) for final action. Staff noted some site plans (for the Keller Cypher project) retain active extensions and will return to planning review as part of the annexation and permitting process.

Ending: The commission recorded the approvals as recommendations to be forwarded to the city’s next decision-making steps, while urging applicants and staff to resolve accessory-parcel zoning and site-access conditions before final annexation.