City reports rise in housing starts; several major permits near issuance including new high school and 66‑unit senior living project

Heather (staff member) gave the Planning Department’s permit and project update: the city has issued 208 permits year‑to‑date compared with 215 at the same time last year, but single‑family housing starts have doubled to 37 from 19. The department has issued one multi‑unit permit this year (none at the same time last year) and reported no commercial permits year to date compared with last year.

Since the last meeting staff issued a building permit for Town and Country Animal Health Care at 811 South Dunbridge Road and approved a small addition and alteration permit for Saint Aloysius Church at 150 South Enterprise Street. Staff reported they are close to issuing the Bowling Green High School new‑construction permit (site work already underway), and are awaiting revised plans for several commercial and institutional additions: Tin Man warehouse addition at 1358 Bellard and a Pioneer Packing addition at 510 Napoleon. The Kwik Trip permit is pending receipt of a financial guarantee for right‑of‑way work. Bowling Green Senior Living — a proposed new construction of 66 dwelling units on South Main Street near Aldi — has revised plans outstanding.

Heather also reported on planning workstreams: the city is updating subdivision regulations (RFP issued June 16; proposals due July 17; one proposal received to date) and continuing work on access‑management policies and guidelines. Staff provided an update handout on the South Main Improvement Project, which includes a shared‑use path, two new pedestrian crossings with hybrid beacons and planting more than 80 trees; staff said the project implements elements of the city’s community action plan and future land use map.

No formal actions were taken on these items at the meeting; commissioners received the update and had no follow‑up questions recorded in the meeting minutes.