The Bowling Green City Council opened a public hearing on Ordinance 9 2 8 1 to consider placing part of the property at 416 West Wooster Street on the city's local historic register and applying a historic-overlay zoning designation.

Planning Director Heather Sailor reviewed the file, noting the designation request originated with the property owner and that the Historic Preservation Commission held the required public hearing on March 25 and forwarded a positive recommendation to council. Sailor told council members the planning commission reviewed the request on April 7 and recommended approval at its May 7 meeting. She provided photographs, a property inventory form describing architectural significance and past use, a survey showing that the designation applies to a portion of the parcel (parcel A), and a map showing the property's attachment to the North Maple Historic District.

Attorney Tom Botsberger, representing Anissa Miller, trustee of the Anissa Miller Living Trust and the titled owner, told the council the application concerns only the front/south portion of the parcel (parcel A). Botsberger said parcel C had been deeded to Dunn Funeral Home months earlier and parcel B is a rear parcel that does not contain any of the structure on parcel A; he said parcel B abuts Miller's home at 124 North Maple and could be joined to that parcel later. Botsberger said Anissa Miller plans interior demolition work and has identified a demolition contractor, and that a favorable ordinance would better enable an application for Ohio historic tax credits. He added that state officials running the tax credit program had expressed interest in Wood County, and that only one prior Wood County application had been filed and later withdrawn.

No members of the public addressed the committee and the council members present (identified in the transcript as Greg and Jeff) had no questions beyond staff's presentation. The hearing was closed and council moved on to the next ordinance; the transcript records no vote or formal council action on Ordinance 9 2 8 1 during the public hearing.

Why it matters: A local historic register designation with a historic-overlay zone can affect what changes a property owner may make and can make the property eligible for state historic tax credits, which the applicant said she plans to pursue if council acts favorably.