Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Development And Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighbors report trespass, drug paraphernalia after Menards stops fence short; city staff to follow up
Summary
Residents told the Bowling Green commission that a gap in a new Menards perimeter fence has funneled trespassers into adjacent backyards, creating safety and property concerns; city staff said the rezoning applied to a different parcel and Menards’ local manager lacks authority to extend the fence, and commissioners said they will pursue the matter with the company.
Leanne Kerr and other residents told the Bowling Green Board of Commissioners on Sept. 16 that a newly installed perimeter fence at the Menards site ends abruptly near their backyards, creating a repeated path for trespass, theft and unwanted visitors.
"It's just my backyard open to the public now," said Hannah Tibbs, who described finding people in her yard, seeing someone pull on her car handle and locating drug paraphernalia and trash in her yard. Residents asked the city to require Menards to complete the fence to the end of the neighborhood, a stretch they said would affect about five houses.
The neighborhood representatives asked the city to review prior development conditions and any commitments made during the rezoning and permitting process. City Attorney Hillary and staff described a technical zoning issue: the parcel immediately behind the homes remained single-family residential and was not part of the rezoning application, leaving a gap so Menards is not legally required to extend fencing onto that parcel. Staff said the store manager had been cooperative locally but lacked authority to require corporate action.
Commissioner Beasley Brown and others said they recalled agreement at the rezoning vote that the neighborhood would be protected by a continuous fence. City staff said they have corresponded with Menards and asked the company to consider donating materials for a private extension; the store's local management declined, citing lack of corporate authority.
The commission encouraged staff to pull meeting records from the rezoning hearing and to escalate communications with Menards’ corporate leadership. No regulatory penalty or immediate mandatory remedy was ordered at the Sept. 16 meeting; commissioners said they would pursue the issue further with the developer and review whether development conditions or rereview of approvals provide leverage.
Next steps: staff said they will continue outreach to Menards’ corporate representatives and review the original rezoning record and development conditions to determine whether the city can require completion of fencing or otherwise mitigate trespass and safety issues.
