Planning commission backs rezoning of West Newton Road site for new fire station

The Bowling Green Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend that city council rezone a 4.979-acre parcel on West Newton Road from Innovation & Employment (IE) to Institutional to allow construction of the city's newest fire station. The commission made the recommendation after a staff presentation and brief deliberation.

Heather, Planning Department staff, told commissioners the property (parcel B 08510-140000001006) is undeveloped and adjacent to the community center and that all procedural notice requirements had been met. "The proposed use is a construction of the city's newest fire station, which will provide emergency services to the city city," Heather said, adding the project is still in the design phase and that a traffic study has not yet been submitted.

Heather said staff compared current IE standards to the proposed institutional standards and found only modest differences in setbacks and lot-coverage rules; she said the change aligns with the city's future land use map and the "7 BG" planning principles. Heather also said the city received a signed letter of support from adjacent owner Robert Mauer and received no other written comments. "We can't say for sure yet how many trees [will be removed], but I do know the city is gonna try to preserve as many as they can," Heather said when commissioners raised concerns about tree loss.

Chair noted that voters previously approved a tax levy to support building this and another station, saying "the tax levy to help support building this fire station and another fire station passed very handily," as part of the discussion about public backing. After questions and brief deliberation, the chair moved to recommend council approval. The commission recorded a roll call vote of 7–0 in favor.

The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to Bowling Green City Council, which will hold its own public hearing before taking final action.