Council opens hearing on zoning for 18.87 acres on South Dunbridge Road

Bowling Green City Council opened a public hearing on Ordinance 9243 Wednesday to consider interim Innovation & Employment (IE) zoning for about 18.87 acres on South Dunbridge Road that were recently annexed to the city.

Planning Director Heather Sailor told the council the petition was filed by Ryan A. Rothenbuehler as agent for Hartung Farms LLC. Sailor said the Planning Commission reviewed the request on Nov. 6 and recommended interim IE zoning; she supplied council members with a handout showing IE standards, a list of proposed uses, and a map of adjacent zoning classifications. She said the commission recommended IE in part because Hartung’s existing facility is already zoned IE and the company may expand onto the newly purchased parcel.

No applicant representative spoke during the hearing; the transcript records the applicant’s agent name but not a public statement. No written correspondence was submitted for the record. Councilmembers Greg (last name not specified) and Jeff (last name not specified) expressed support; Jeff commented that the proposed zoning “seem[ed] to make sense given the neighboring properties” and that it was “great to see the business expanding.” The presiding officer closed the hearing after brief council discussion; the transcript does not record a final council vote on the ordinance.

Details and context: the property encompasses approximately 18.87 acres on South Dunbridge Road and was annexed to the city as part of the petition submitted by Ryan A. Rothenbuehler on behalf of Hartung Farms LLC. The Planning Commission recommended interim IE zoning during its Nov. 6 review, and staff provided materials listing allowed uses and adjacent zoning to support the recommendation.

The hearing concluded with no formal vote recorded in the transcript; next steps for council consideration were not specified during the hearing.