Planning commission schedules Jan. 7 public hearings for rezoning requests, including site for new fire station

The City of Bowling Green Planning Commission set public hearings for Jan. 7 on two rezoning requests: a roughly 4.979-acre parcel on West Newton Road the city intends for a fire station, and about 5.8 acres at 1168 North Main Street proposed to move from Commercial zoning to Innovation & Employment zoning.

At the meeting the Chair identified the West Newton Road site (parcel B0851014) and said the property is intended "to be turned into a fire station on that end of town." Staff described the first request as a City of Bowling Green application seeking Institutional zoning in place of the current Innovation and Employment classification. The commission agreed to set the item for a public hearing on Jan. 7.

The second request affects parcels identified as B07-51118 (and a variant with the final digit changed) at 1168 North Main Street. The proposed change would reclassify the parcels from Commercial to Innovation & Employment zoning; Rex Hoffman was identified as the applicants' agent and property owners listed include Mike Atherin, Larry Carroll, Jack Jones and Greg Teleki. That item also was scheduled for a Jan. 7 public hearing.

Scheduling public hearings starts the formal public-notice process and allows the commission to take public comment and a staff recommendation before making a decision or forwarding a recommendation to council, as required under city procedures. The rezoning hearings will provide residents and stakeholders an opportunity to review project details and raise concerns before any final action.