We'll begin in just a moment.

If you plan on speaking today and you have not signed in at the lectern, now would be a good time to do so.

And then we will begin in about two minutes.

Thank you.

Oh.

Okay.

Yeah.

I don't even know my address is a good question.

Twenty years ago.

Yeah, I just got two or three.

Good afternoon.

This is a regularly scheduled meeting of the City State of Plan Commission.

Ms.

Catrell, will you please call the role?

Yes, sir.

Rachel Momini.

Here.

Emory Winnington.

Here.

Here.

Chris Wall.

Here.

Eric Rosweiler.

Here.

Mr.

Chair, you have a quorum.

I notice this meeting was posted in the offices of the Toledo Lucas County Plan Commission's Clerk of Council's office and the lobby of one government center.

A copy that notices available for inspection in our files, if anyone will care to do so.

Good afternoon, everyone.

We have a procedure here at the Plan Commission that if you plan on speaking on any case, we must swear you in.

So at the beginning of each case, I will first call up the applicant.

I will get their name and address.

We'll swear them in, and they will have five minutes to present their case.

We're going to begin with some preliminary matters, but those that are still signing in, feel free to continue doing so.

Ms.

Catrell, do we have any minutes to approve?

We have the minutes from the special city hearing of February 25th, 2026.

I'll accept a motion on those minutes.

Motion to accept.

Seconded.

We have a first and a second to approve the minutes.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Is there any opposed?

That passes unanimously.

Ms.

Cattrell, do we have a director's report?

We do.

I would request we move it to the end of the hearing.

Thank you.

We'll we'll hear the director's report at the end.

Um I will ask everyone in the audience now if you could silence your cell phones.

We're going to have a busy agenda this afternoon, and we want to keep this moving along for everybody.

Do we have any final plants, Ms.

Cottrell?

We have no final plats.

Okay.

And do we have any requests for withdrawal, advancement, or deferral?

We have one request to withdraw a case and one request for deferral.

Item number seven is case SCP 26009, special use permit for type A daycare center at 8116 C Core Road.

The applicant is withdrawn this application.

Okay.

Since that's a withdrawal, we don't need to take any action.

It's noted for the record that that case has been withdrawn.

Which case is requesting a deferral.

Item number 13 is case SCP 260011, special use permit for a scrap and salvage facility at 4103 LeGrange Street.

The applicant is requesting a 60-day deferral to the June agenda.

I'll accept a motion on that request.

The ball will make a motion for deferral.

Gross water seconded.

We have a first and a second to approve of the 60-day deferral request for case number 13.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

That carries unanimously.

So if you are here today for either the scrap and salvage case at 4103 Lagrange or the daycare on Seacor Road, those cases will not be heard today.

And we will move on to the next item on our agenda.

So Ms.

Catrell, will you read the first case into the record, please?

Item number one is case Z26005, zone change from RM36 multidwelling residential to CO office commercial at 2108 Collingwood Boulevard.

Staff recommends approval for the following two reasons.

The proposed zone change is consistent with the forward Toledo plan and the stated purpose of the zoning code, and the proposed zone change is compatible with existing land uses within the general vicinity of the subject property.

Thank you.

Is the applicant present.

Hello there.

Can I get your name and address, please?

Christine Palmer, 2108, Collingwood Boulevard, Toledo, Ohio, 43620.

Thank you.

Will you raise your right hand?

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Ma'am, please tell us about your project.

Well, the purpose of the zoning request is to allow for the installation of an exterior sign that can clearly communicate the wide range of activities and services taking place within our historic building, which is Collingwood Presbyterian Church.

Our 87,000 square foot building at one time had over 2,000 members.

But now on every on an average Sunday, we have about 35 people.

Unfortunately, in an approximately 2018, the sign on the north end of the building, which used to be both these signs used to be a 10-foot, at least a 10-foot monument sign.

One was hit by a car in 2018, and the other was hit in 2020.

So currently we have no signage in front of our building.

Our goal is to have a vibrant building with many activities for the community.

Currently, we have Sacred Steel Music and History Museum, Peace Tabernacle Church, unbounded artists who provide art classes to the community.

We have creating eternal bonds, which is an after-school program.

We have a gallery and community room, Toledo School for the Arts.

We'll have an artwork on display in our gallery next month.

We have the Charles R.

Johnson Family Center, which provides activity rooms, youth rooms, and breakout rooms for conferences.

And although we have always had weddings in our building, we are renovating to be able to provide full wedding services with the use of our sanctuary, wedding suites, caterers, and a 300 person capacity banquet hall.

But you wouldn't be aware of any of this from the outside of our building.

It's imperative to the survival of our congregation and to the church building that the public is able to see that we are a church, but we are so much more than a church.

We don't want to become another empty church building in the city of Toledo left to Blight.

So we are requesting the zone change to commercial office commercials so that we can have a medium or high profile ground sign.

Thank you very much.

So but yes, this will uh assist with complementing uh a lot of those activities.

Thank you very much.

Commissioners, any questions for the applicant?

Oh Mr.

Chair, I do have a question.

Um what's the location that you're planning the sign to be?

Um it would be the corner of Floyd and Collingwood.

There was previously one of those uh monument signs was located there at that time.

Okay, so where the previous sign was is where you're yes, we're one of the previous signs.

Um as long as it's still in compliance with the zoning rules, of course.

Thank you.

Okay, Mr.

Ball.

Yeah, this question is for build.

So uh if we approve this case, the sign still has to go before the historic district commission, correct?

Or the old West End Historic District Commission?

That's correct.

Yeah, the um so I did present the uh zone change to the historic district commission at their last meeting.

Um there was no uh concerns with the zone change, they were very supportive of that.

Um to be noted that in the event of a successful zone change, they will uh uh only be permitted to have a changeable copy, uh ground mounted sign and not an EMC.

EMCs are not permitted in historic district overlays, so we're looking at a traditional ground mounted sign.

Um I believe medium profile is going to be their height.

Thank you.

Any additional questions from the commissioners?

Hearing none, I will ask is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak on this case?

And Bill, did we get any calls, emails, or other correspondence in advance of today's hearing?

I received no comment.

Okay.

Ma'am, the staff has recommended approval of your case.

Do you have any final comments you wish to make?

Um, just just really that we we've been in the neighborhood for over 130 years, and we want to be able to continue that, and this will very much help us do so.

Thank you.

At this time, I will accept a motion on this case, Z26-0005.

Mominy will make a motion for approval.

One of the second we have a first and a second to approve the application.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right.

That carries unanimously.

And you will be back here on May 20th in front of uh the City Council Planning and Zoning Committee for the next steps in this zone change.

Good luck to you.

Thank you very much.

Ms.

Catrell, will you read the next case into the record?

Item number two is case Z25028 zone change from CR Regional Commercial to RD6 duplex residential at 4927 Summit Street.

Staff recommends approval for the following two reasons.

The proposed rezoning is consistent with the forward Toledo plan and the stated purpose of the zoning code, and the proposed rezoning is compatible with the existing zoning classifications of properties within the general vicinity of the site.

Thank you.

Is the applicant presentation?

Sir, name and address, please.

Oh Calvin, my I'm kind of sitting lost my voice.

Oh, Calvin Mulligan 313 Riversides Ride, Commercial Point, Ohio.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, can you tell us about your request?

Uh we're trying to get it uh change from commercial to a residential so we can move a family in because right now is uh we're trying to the financing company said we have to get it zoned to a back to a duplex, but we didn't realize when we purchased it uh three years ago that it was zoned for commercial but the property um its use is a as a residential duplex, correct?

Correct.

Okay.

And so you just want to change the zoning to match the use of the property.

Correct.

Okay.

Commissioners, any additional questions for the applicant.

Okay.

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak on this case?

Dana, did we get any calls, emails, or other correspondence in advance of today's hearing?

No, sir, we did not.

Okay.

Sir, the staff has recommended approval of your case.

Do you have any final comments?

No.

Okay.

At this time I will accept a motion on this case.

Z25-0028.

Okay.

Oh make a motion for approval.

Mominy will second.

We have a first and a second to approve the case.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

That carries unanimously, and sir, you will be back on May 20th before City Council in these chambers.

Okay.

Thank you.

Good luck to you.

All right.

Ms.

Catrell, case number three, please.

Item number three is case SUP 26002, special use permit for a major public utility at 1910 North Over Road, the Silver Creek Water Tower.

Staff recommends approval for the following reason.

The city and other service providers will be able to provide sufficient public safety, transportation, and utility facilities and services to the subject site while maintaining sufficient levels of service for existing development.

Staff further recommends approval subject to 30 conditions, which will be reflected in the minutes and not read into the record unless there's a request that I do so.

In this case, it was deferred from the last hearing to allow for a neighborhood meeting.

Thank you.

Sir, name and address, please.

Uh Andy McClure, uh 420 Madison, uh Toledo, Ohio.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, we heard this case last month uh regarding the the new water towers on North Over Road.

We had deferred for 30 days so a neighborhood meeting could be conducted.

Can you tell us about that neighborhood meeting?

And uh yeah, there was a neighborhood meeting convened.

I was not able to attend, but I have I've heard nothing but good feedback from the meeting or maybe a few dissent um opinions, but overall the meeting response was good.

Um yeah, so Dana, were you were you at that meeting?

Dana, would you mind how how did the meeting go?

Yes, um it went uh well, it was the open house style um public meeting, both the school and the city were present to answer any questions and presented both the water towers and the boardwalk.

Um also presented um the uh beautification side of the project and um what you see now is the landscape plan, um, and that has been updated since the uh previous hearing.

Um concern was about construction, disturbing the wildlife, and um concern about any mature trees that would be taken down, um and staff was were able to uh show with maps and uh walk residents through how much of the area is actually going to be cleared, and I believe it already is so um they um other than that um there were a little or there was a little bit of concern with having just a utility looking at uh behind your house, but uh residents were um happy with some of the more beautification side Thank you and sir the the staff has recommended approval subject to 30 conditions has your office had a chance to review those?

Yes, I do want to report on uh recommendation number 25.

Barbed wire is no longer in consideration for the fence.

I think that's an excellent idea.

All right.

Um you're comfortable with the other uh conditions of approval.

Yes, we are.

Okay.

Commissioners, any additional questions for the applicant hearing none.

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak in favor of or oppose to this case?

There is a hand back there, so uh sir, if you don't mind sitting down just for a second.

Um whoever raised their hand, please step forward.

Hi there, name and address, please.

Laura Crawford, 5455 South Glastonbury, Toledo, 43613.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Okay, I was at the meeting also, and um I did have several people sign a petition not to have the water towers there.

Um there were a few that were on the fence only because they want their water pressure fixed, but they really don't like the idea of the water towers being there.

Um there were five points I would like to make about these water towers, and um first I fully support fixing the water pressure problem.

However, I feel that there has to be a better solution or compromise than put putting two giant water towers in the middle of a residential area so close to the homes and to the school.

Um what if it fails?

What if there's a leak?

What if you know there's destruction to it, you know that that all impacts everybody's lives and their property?

Umly most residents think it's gonna be an ISO, or at least the residents that I've talked to.

They don't want the just the destruction of the woods and the disruption to the wildlife.

Um a lot of residents feed the deer that used to go in there.

They've already tore out a good chunk of the trees, even after the deferment, they went ahead and just started it.

Um in addition, there's I know they're gonna put fences up, but there's gonna be graffiti, kids trying to climb it, getting hurt.

So I feel it if it's in more of a commercial area, that risk is minimized.

Um I don't think a fence will stop the kids.

I think that that is delusional.

I think kids will always find a way.

I think they're gonna graffiti it, which means then more maintenance for it.

And then there's also the concern how is this going to impact the sewer or the storm drains in the area, causing more pressure?

Is that gonna cause more flooding in basements and in streets?

Um third, and this one really speaks to me is the contamination risk.

They're gonna build a wetland, which means there's gonna be frogs, toads, snakes, turtles.

They all carry salmonella.

They all carry E.

coli 015H7, the hemorrhagic E.

coli.

I've been a microbiologist for almost 40 years.

I know what these bacteria can cause in the human body and the kind of sickness that it can cause, not to mention Legionella getting in there.

Bacteria don't need a huge opening to get in there, and frogs and toads don't either.

Um at the meeting, there was one city employee who was very arrogant and said, nothing's getting in my water tower.

Well, that's just not true.

That's I mean, I have pages of water towers that have been contaminated, and just one recently in Cleveland in 2025 that was contaminated with Legionella.

Um so that's a very real possibility.

I think moving it away from the wildlife and putting it in a more commercial area would minimize that risk.

I think where it is now, the risk is very, very, very heightened.

Um they also said, I said, how well how often is the water test?

He says, Well, we test it every day.

I said, That's not true.

You don't climb into that water tower and get a cup out and test it every day.

The water treatment plant tests water every day, but you don't test water in a water tower every day.

Now, me as a microbiologist, I have the ability and the resources.

I can test my drinking water every day.

And what do you think will happen if it comes back that is growing one of those things?

What will people do?

Um I have some um literature here that says that over a hundred thousand cases of sickness, illness, respiratory or or gastrointestinal, can be attributed to water towers.

It's just most people don't think that's where it's coming from.

So there's that, that's my biggest concern.

Um often will it be done, and how noisy is it gonna be?

Every few months, then it's a nuisance.

One to every one to three years, then we're back to the chance of possible contamination.

And if graffiti has to be removed, then it there's sandblasting, which then can cause debris, dust, all that in our neighborhood.

I mean, this water tower is like basically in my backyard.

So of course I'm against it.

Um is there no other options for increasing the water pressure?

You know, a booster pump, something.

Um, and the bottom line is that we are entitled to peaceful enjoyment of our property, and you're taking they're taking that away.

And when I asked that same city employee if he would want it in his backyard, he said no.

I don't want it, wouldn't want it in my backyard.

So I'm asking you, would you be willing to take these risks of contamination if if it was in your backyard?

Would you want that risk?

Mr.

Chair, you're at three minutes.

Thank you.

I'll give you another five to ten seconds if you have anything else you'd like to add.

Um, I think that's it.

I'm just asking if you could find another place for it.

I mean, there's other options for it.

That doesn't have to be it.

And I know they're working with the school, but they have to consider other things than just the um the boardwalk that they're building.

I don't think that's a fair trade.

Thank you.

What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna ask the applicant to come back up here and we're gonna address some of those concerns.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So I know we spoke about this last month a little bit, but can you talk about the other locations and other options that were explored?

Uh yeah, we looked at um at least four.

Yeah, at least four other locations.

Um one of those was in an industrial area that would have been it's basically a brownfield site, so we did not want to build um risk exposing contractors to um hazardous materials during construction or having our elevated tank constructed in those hazardous materials.

Um Bowman Park was looked at, but that would have disturbed parking area and possibly one of the baseball diamonds, and also would have required significant construction and a lot of traffic delays at the intersection of Jackman and Lasky.

Um then there's another site um similar um some UAW property that was not available for sale that we also looked at.

So this yeah, we we did look at um several sites, and uh again the prime reason for selecting the site on Northover is the presence of a um trunk water main, basically an artery, a large one, uh, right in the right in the street um to that's right there to be connected to easily and uh cost effectively and the purpose of installing over that water main is to improve the water pressure for the surrounding area, correct?

Yeah, it it's the the surrounding area, and really it helps um west of there um any place along Alexis that's fed by that trunk main.

Thank you.

We we also heard a couple concerns about how often it the this will be maintained or the water is tested.

Can you speak to those issues for a moment?

Um the maintenance there will be inspections on a frequent frequent basis.

Uh typically I have to expect at least once a week.

Um the any any um mowing that has to be done will be done seasonally on a seasonal basis as required.

Uh there will be snow removal done as required.

Um we don't anticipate any really heavy maintenance for a long time, and even uh the pumps or anything that would be maintained are inside the build in inside the uh structure.

So other than landscaping, there would really be no work outside for that.

Um I would certainly hope there would be no graffiti, but we're not gonna tolerate it on a public work structure like that, and we would take care of any graffiti immediately if it did occur.

Um and then long-term maintenance, uh, it's usually a cycle of 20 years between being painted, uh, but there are inspections on I think it's five year intervals are required by uh Ohio EPA.

Thank you.

And um the the question about testing of the water, so is that how often is the tested to see to see the integrity of those uh of those units?

Yes, so the the water in the elevated tank is not stagnant.

It will be getting turned over on a daily basis.

Uh if it's not allowed to turn over, um we really do get problems when there's a little chlorine residual or there are other byproducts that can form if it's if it's held in there over time.

So the water will be turned over on really a daily basis, and it's not a lie that the water is tested daily.

Uh we collect hundreds of samples every month.

We have lab technicians that are constantly collecting samples throughout the distribution system, checking chlorine residuals and doing bacterial tests on the samples.

Um so while we're not really collecting a sample directly from that tank on a daily basis, that water is tested daily.

Thank you.

Uh commissioners, additional questions.

Mr.

Ball, no?

Okay.

Yes, I have one.

Go ahead.

So just for the worker, what's the consideration for the wildlife?

The um so we we tried to be very careful in citing the elevated tanks on the site.

And any tree removal that's going to be done is already done.

And we apologize we did that before this occurred, but we it was permissible to do so.

And construction would have been delayed if we hadn't taken the trees out before um April 1st for um some endangered species reasons.

Um and then the conversion of the remaining of the property um creating a w uh wetland uh and that's gonna be an educational benefit for Washington local schools and it should be unfit for the neighborhood, but creating the wetland there um is also part of um trying to address wildlife and uh and in the area okay.

Thanks.

Any additional questions?

Dana calls, emails, or other correspondence in advance of today's hearing.

Uh yes, we received three phone calls total.

Um and uh most of the concerns have already been talked about.

Construction, uh having a large utility in the backyard.

Um thank you.

And I did intend to cut off audience comments, so is it just to make sure is there anyone else in the audience who wanted to speak on this case?

Okay.

So at this time I will accept a motion on this case.

SUP 26-0002.

Well, we'll make a motion for approval.

Uh willing to hold a second.

We have a motion for approval.

Um all those in favor of the motion, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I believe that carries unanimously.

And this will go before city council on May 20th and uh at 4 p.m.

in these chambers.

Ms.

Catrell, the next case, please.

Item number four is case SUP 260014.

Special use permit for community recreation active at 617 City Park Avenue.

Staff recommends approval for the following two reasons.

The proposed use meets the state of purpose of the zoning code, and the proposed use complies with all applicable provisions of the zoning code.

Staff further recommends approval, subject to 25 conditions, which will be reflected in the minutes and not read into the record unless there's a request that I do so.

Sir, name and address, please.

Joe Fosna, 2201 Ottawa Drive.

Thank you.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, tell us about the project.

Uh this project involves a revitalization of HV Savage Park.

Uh it's our oldest city park.

Um the project will involve uh demolition of the uh elevated pool at that park as well as the splash pad and parking lot.

Um the elevated pool uh will be replaced by an open-air shelter house, and the splash pad will be replaced by a new splash pad.

Um so it in the end, uh once we're finished with these renovations, uh Savage Park will be completely refreshed and uh some much needed work in a neighborhood that very much deserves some attention.

Thank you.

Uh the staff has recommended approval subject to 25 conditions.

Have you reviewed those conditions?

I have.

We're willing to accept those conditions.

There were a few comments issued with the conditions that I'd like to follow up with those departments.

Um but uh if if they hold to the comments, we're willing to accept them.

Thank you.

All right.

I don't have any additional questions for the applicant members of the commission.

Any questions?

Hearing none, I will ask, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak in favor of or opposed to this case?

We may have one.

Please step forward.

Sir, name and address, please.

Harvey Savage Jr.

Uh 2163 Green Valley Drive.

Toledo.

Thank you.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, go ahead.

Okay, we support all that's uh being done to the park.

We have for years uh went through uh multiple administrations making an effort to get the pool torn down.

And so this is our opportunity.

We want it to go forward.

We think it will help re revitalize a lot of the uh area, and so that's kind of where we're at now.

We support this wholeheartedly.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the audience?

Dana, did we get any calls, emails, or other correspondence in advance of today's hearing?

Yes, sir.

We received three phone calls.

One resident was disappointed to see the pool being demoed.

But there is going to be a nice uh monument for it since it is a uh such history.

Um other than that, everyone was very happy to see some work being put into this park.

Thank you.

Sir, any final comments?

Uh the demolition of the pool was kind of a a choice of last resort.

Um it's a very unique architecture.

We we tried very hard to save it.

Um working with the structural engineer was determined that it just was not feasible.

We entered into discussions with the National Park Service and the Ohio Historic Preservation Office and spent a year uh developing uh a memorandum of of agreement on what we would do to recognize the significance of that pool.

Um so there's an entire interpretive plan that's been developed and shared with both of those groups for approval.

Thank you.

At this time, I will accept a motion on this case.

SUP 26-0014.

Mominy will make a motion for approval.

We have a first and a second to approve the application.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, any opposed.

That cures unanimously, and sir, you will be back again on May 20th in these chambers before city council.

Thank you.

Again, item number five is case SUP 26003.

Special use permit for a solar field at 627 Lotus Avenue.

Staff recommends approval for the following three reasons.

The proposed use meets the state of purpose of the zoning code.

The proposed use is consistent with the Ford Toledo Plan and the old South Dun Master Plan, and the proposed use will not have any adverse land or environmental impacts.

Staff further recommends approval of the following waiver TMC 1107 1906 parking, loading and access surfaces and drainage.

Approving waiver so the proposed access road and interior site drives for the solar energy facility do not have to be surfaced with concrete, asphalt, or other dust-free material, so a gravel gravel road, basically.

Staff further recommends approval subject to 25 conditions, which will be reflected in the minutes and not read into the record unless there's a request that I do so.

And then item number six is case MRO 126 of Maumee River Overfront Overlay Review of a Solar Field at 627 Lotus Avenue.

Staff recommends approval for the following two reasons.

The proposed use meets the goals of the Ford Toledo Plan and the proposed use conforms to the goals of the Maumee Riverfront Overlay District as presented in the 1981 Maumee River Front Plan and the Toledo Municipal Code.

Staff further recommends approval subject to three conditions which will be reflected in the minutes and not read into the record unless there's requests that I do so.

And again, these were deferred to allow the applicant to hold a neighborhood meeting.

Thank you.

Is the applicant present?

Please step forward.

Sir, name and address, please.

Joe Cordella, 13686, Echo Junction Road, Parrisburg, Ohio.

And I'm from the Historic South Initiative.

Thank you.

I'll have the others swear in now too.

If you don't mind name and address, please.

Carl.

Carl Wagner, 14371, Prairie Lake Drive, Perysburg.

I'm the board chair with HSI.

Thank you.

Molly Thompson, 30120 Waterford Drive Perysburg, and I'm with Elevated Energy.

Thank you.

We all please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Okay.

So I know we we heard this case in part last month.

Um I am going to ask you to give us an update on how the neighborhood meeting went, but just as a refresher, why don't you remind us all what this project is and what you're asking for?

Yes.

Thank you.

So we are seeking uh permission to do a special use permit to build a solar array in the old south end.

The location we've chosen, I'm gonna have Carl Wagner speak more to.

Um in response to the feedback we received.

I just want to address what we've done so far.

We've done more public outreach.

I personally went and canvassed um the neighborhood.

I directly left uh notes and business cards with every resident that may be affected by the construction.

We also held a public meeting on Monday.

Um I'm gonna share some of the feedback we received from the public meeting.

Uh I think the two biggest questions that we had when I brought Carl Wagner, our board chair to address them both was the site selection and also a little bit of a framework of what the neighborhood uh fund would look like.

Um additionally, we did um further public outreach.

I know that it missed the 11 o'clock deadline, but I do have a petition I think Lisa can help me submit to you that had 25 signers.

Um it includes nonprofits such as Mami Valley Habitat, Lucas County Land Bank, uh, and a number of other neighborhood partners as well as residents who signed that.

Um also after the deadline, we did receive a letter of support from Commissioner Lopez.

So I have that to submit to you, and also Commissioner Lopez's assistant is here to speak to that as well.

Um I also want to say in general, I would I regarded the public meeting as a success.

Um anybody who knows how public meetings can go.

I think if you change anyone's opinion or anyone's mind in a meeting, it's a success.

So certainly there were some stalwart opponents and some that came in, they knew they supported it from the minute they heard about it.

Um but I met three or four people who said I really had a chance to listen.

Thank you for this opportunity.

It's changed my opinion.

It sounds like you guys are doing really great work, and so I thank you all for the opportunity to have that public needing to speak more to it.

Um, and I did mention as well that we further commit to the neighborhood to continue to try to grow and increase our communications.

Um, and so that's an aim that we have as well.

Um I do want to address one thing.

I know I submitted it on record, but since he's here, I just want to make sure I mention it.

One of the um questions that came up at the public meeting was in the master plan, this site was proposed as a park.

I do want to say that Joe Fosno has gone on the record of saying that right now that's not considered something they have considered feasible due to where it is and the easement that would be required.

Um, on the positive side, I want to give an update for our personal pursuit of the easement with Norfolk Southern.

They are working with us and things are moving progress progressively well, and they've asked for more information on the project so they can move forward with it.

So that's a positive thing.

I'm gonna pause there because I know the two big questions were site consideration and neighborhood trust um for funds, and like I said, I've only been with HSI for two years.

Um, and Carl thankfully has been here longer, so I'll introduce Carl Wagner.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Sir, go ahead.

I'll take them one at a time.

So uh I've been with HSI for five years.

Uh as you know, this project was really planned four years ago.

Uh at that time, a needs review was conducted for possible sites.

As I talked to the folks involved at the time, almost any site that was five acres or more that was vacant was was reviewed at that time.

Uh so was it vacant?

Would it have to be demolished?

Was there other work need to be required?

Could we acquire it?

Uh, and and really was it large enough for a silver field.

Uh the 627 Lotus Avenue was identified as the strongest, most suitable uh site at the time uh because it met all the criteria with with the city and with the sites that were considered.

So I can stop there and you'll come back with questions.

Uh I'll ask at this time can you give an examples of any other sites you looked at?

So for for example, if you just look at like it from a drone at the different sites, you would see Golden Rural Park, you'd see Ashley Park, you'd see the old Newberry School.

They're they're all sites that have either useful uses right now or valuable use down the road.

So the the reviews that we saw that we could get access to really came down to this city-owned site.

And we're we're not aware of other sites at this time.

Thank you.

So the second consideration would be uh the neighborhood fund that we'd like to establish.

We we very much have been inspired by the uh Greater Toledo Community Foundation's neighborhood fund uh with the G plant.

So we we would plan to do something very similar to that where the revenue from the SOARA would go into a fund that would be administered by an independent group or by the Greater Toledo Community Foundation.

Uh it would be a transparent application process for organizations and community groups to apply for the funding.

Uh we estimate as you know, about a hundred thousand dollars per year could be generated for use by the community, and so we see tremendous benefit for community organizations with the the Silver Array.

Thank you.

On this front, I do have some questions, and I I just want to get a couple points clear on the record regarding this.

The project itself is gonna be completely funded by a grant that has been awarded, correct?

Correct.

Okay.

So if this project does not go forward, it's in essence the grant would go away and the potential for that investment would be gone.

Yes.

Okay.

The monies that are generated from the array itself, the original the original application seemed to suggest that those funds would be used for the historic South continued efforts, redeveloping properties, uh, making improvements in neighborhoods.

What we're hearing now is that that scope has expanded, that that in essence this would be administered by an independent group, these funds, and that everyone would have a chance to bid a to bid their project to seek a grant from these monies.

Right.

And and to Joe's point, you know, this was discussed four years ago when we put this project together.

Uh housing would be one of the potential uses, but community arts, landscaping, commercial development, any anything that an organization in the old South End would require.

I think educational use would be a tremendous use for you know schools requesting funds for different purposes.

So as you might be aware, the uh the J plant just awarded $90,000, I think, to nine different organizations about two months ago.

And again, that's that's the inspiration for us in terms of being able to spread that across the organ organizations in the old South End.

The funds though would be restricted to use within the South End, though, correct?

Yes.

Okay.

Actually, technically the the old South End.

The old South end.

Yeah.

And we we received a lot of correspondence on this case.

I mean just to get an idea.

I mean, we've we've got packets upon packets of correspondence here.

Uh what I found helpful was the summary that was provided.

Um I believe you guys maintain a website, correct?

The summary that was provided, I think, if it's not already on your website, it'd be a good thing to put on your website.

I thought this was this was done well.

It answers a lot of questions about this project.

Um I guess what I'm concerned about is um how you will go about deciding who is awarding these grants.

Um it's it's all very vague and it's and it's a change from what was originally presented to us.

So I'm just curious as to if you've thought through how that process is going to work.

So I think that the the best way to think about it would be either leaders in the organizations of the old South End or independent uh advisors.

Just like scholarship funds or other awards are made.

I think it would be very important that it's resident informed but independently advised.

Thank you.

And the array itself will be under a 20-year agreement to purchase power, correct?

And so after that 20-year period, that agreement can either be renewed or potentially if it's not renewed, uh, the array could be removed and the and the ground could be restored to what it was before.

That's correct.

So the average lifestyle life cycle of a project like this is 20 to 25 years.

Part of what we've done is to build in not only maintenance into the budget, but decommissioning at the end of the useful life for this project.

So yes, that is correct.

Thank you.

Those are my questions.

Commissioners.

All right.

Hearing none, uh, is there anything else you want to add before I open this up to the audience?

Okay.

All right.

At this time, I'm gonna ask that if there's is there anyone in the audience.

Are we here?

I do have a question.

Okay, go ahead.

Sorry, sorry.

Um, I just thought of it.

So we in the um in the uh the uh excuse me.

We do say that the an uh easement needs to be taken care of for access to the site, but last time we were here we did hear that there is actually an easement running parallel to the the rail road allowing access to the adjacent parcel.

Will you be reconfiguring your solar layout to accommodate for that?

Yeah, thank you for bringing that up.

So we have spoken with the gentleman who owns that, and we can easily shift the array down 40 feet, and it won't then it'll be clear of that easement.

So yes, thank you.

Okay, thank you.

I guess one other question I might have in terms of overall say beautification of the site or um in an effort to maybe maintain or enhance some of the uh the flora and fauna that people are so uh concerned with and rightfully so.

Um I'm imagining there's a a great amount of maybe invasive species on in this site in terms of the plant the plants that are there.

Will an efforts be taken to maybe um take care of some of those invasives and to maybe bring in more beneficial plantings, more native species, maybe more um you know, color to help enhance the the site further.

Thank you.

Um I spoke to Councilmember Gaddis earlier this week, and she suggested um somewhat a marshal stem that has pollinators and has worked with the zoo that we might do something similar.

So, and honestly, it's something on my to-do list.

I haven't done it yet, but that's something we're aiming to do is reach out to the zoo or another partner to make it as positive as we can for the environment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's all from me.

Thank you, Rachel.

So at this time, I'm going to open this up to the audience.

We've received a tremendous amount of correspondence, both in support and in opposition.

So at this time, I'm going to ask if there's anyone here who would like to speak either for or against this application.

Anyone who would like to speak, please step forward.

Um, just go ahead and make a line right down the aisleway, and we'll take them one by one.

Hi.

Hi there, name and address, please.

My name's Kathleen Bresnahan Doer, and I live at 4254 River Road, Toledo 14.

Thank you.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

First of all, I just want to say thank you for having the meeting and opening this up.

Um I attended the meeting on Monday evening at the library, which was a very good meeting.

Um, there's a lot of concerns that were raised.

Um, negative, positive, everything that you could imagine.

Um I want to just go on record stating that I am very um satisfactorily.

I approve renewable energy.

I'm very I'm in support of it.

My biggest concern with this area is the location.

I think that things kind of moved rather quickly in the last month or two, and I don't feel that the general public and the residents of that area really had a good handle as to what else was possibly considered and whatever was considered.

Why why did why did it end up on Lotus Avenue?

That particular area I was not a hundred percent familiar with, but I have made myself familiar with it in the last few days.

And there's a lot of homes, um railroad tracks, trees, the river.

I think the people that live directly across from those railroad tracks deserve to have their voices heard about the impact of what that will do with the land.

Houses are very tight together.

That whole area is a you know, business area.

I drive through there every day, I shop there, I eat there.

I just feel that we really need to really take a better look at the impact that that's gonna have on the environment.

We've got wildlife, we've got fish, we've got native species ecosystems, and there's not a lot of green space down there.

And I think the people there deserve to have their voice be heard to do whatever we can do to keep that a nice, nice opportunity to look at.

It's good mental energy when you walk up onto your second story level and you look out the window and you can hear geese and seagulls and you can hear trees and water and sunshine.

The group has said yes, we're going to go ahead and address these issues if if the field is actually approved, and it will look nice.

I'm sure there'll be wildflowers and butterflies and things, but I just think that the overall impact of that area is really gonna take a hit.

I think that there's other locations we can possibly consider as far as the revenue and things that it brings in for the for the people.

I'm a little fuzzy on how this is all gonna work and the checks and balances and how these funds are determined who's gonna get the money to do what.

So I would ask everybody that is voting on this and thinking about this.

I don't know if you can take more time to do a little bit more due diligence.

I think that would be fair to all parties involved before that decision is made.

That's it.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you very much.

Yep.

Sir, name and address, please.

Jody Moss, 230 Wallbridge Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, 43609.

Thank you.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, go ahead.

I'm a 54-year-old, lived in the south end for 20 years.

I had to write down my thoughts, so I would not forget my appendance or ordinance proposal.

I'm an adverb fisherman.

I walk down to the pro river park area and still do to supplement my food budget since I'm on supplemental income.

Great fishing spot, never went home empty-handed.

I always see various different types of wildlife.

Every time I go down there.

Also, I'd love the view of the Marmory River upstream to see Prairie's Burg, watching marine traffic going, coming and going out of Rosford Marina.

On how summer days, there is always a cool breeze coming down the river to cool off.

I have no air conditioning in my house, and it is really refreshing down there in the summertime.

I really hope you reject this plan.

Thank you, concerned resident of the old South End.

Thank you.

Please, my name is Gary Braun.

I live at 6 614 Colburn Street, Toledo, Ohio.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

Yes, I do.

Sir, go ahead.

Okay.

The City Planning Commission took four years to come up with the master plan.

I'm not sure how long this plan has been in the works because I have never heard about it until 12 days ago.

Um in my research, I have found other sites that they could partner with to make a solar appeal.

They already said they want partnership with the with the zoo.

The zoo has a brand new parking lot within the old South End limits where they could put an elevated solar field like they have down at Owens Corning.

That would also reduce the urban heat zone.

Because the sun wouldn't be hitting the blacktop creating a heat.

They have like three or four platforms that are they do not use that could be torn down and solar field installed there also.

Um I love the wildlife.

I go fishing down there all the time.

And I believe there's more sites.

There just was not enough investigating on possible sites.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Name and address, please.

Brent Rombach, executive assistant to County Commissioner Anita Lopez.

Address still.

We need it.

We'll do one government center suite, suite 8800.

Go ahead and raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, go ahead.

Good afternoon, Commission members.

So I'm here today just to uh provide and put on the record a letter of support on behalf of County Commissioner Anita Lopez.

So I am writing, uh she is writing to express her strong support for the Lotus Avenue Solar Array Project and the important work of Historic South Initiative.

The old South End and in this old South End.

This project reflects a commitment to responsible and community-centered development that strikes neighborhoods and support residents and maintaining improving their homes.

It aligns closely with the mission of Historic South's initiative to enhance quality of life and provide meaningful resources to families in the area.

The slow the solar array is projected to generate approximately a hundred thousand dollars annually in community benefit funds over the 25-year period.

These funds would be dedicated to home repair programs, providing much needed support for old South End homeowners to maintain improve their properties.

This investment will help stabilize the neighborhood, preserve homes, and allow residents to build long-term equity.

For these reasons, she strongly encouraged the Toledo City Plan Commission to follow their staff's recommendation and improve SUP 26-003 and MRO-126.

The staff reports include the Plan Commission's agenda, outline the project's alignments with zoning codes, the forward Toledo Comprehensive Land Use Plan, and the Maumee Riverfront Overlay District.

Approving these items will deliver tangible benefits to the old South End community and support historic South's ongoing mission.

Respectfully, Anita Lopez, Lucas County Commissioner.

Thank you, sir.

Ma'am, please step forward.

Name and address, please.

Yes.

Thank you, uh, Mr.

Chairman and Commissioners.

My name is Sue Terrell.

I live at 1844 Lindbrook, which is not in the old South End.

But I have uh been involved with it.

Maybe before we have your right hand.

Yeah.

Do you swear affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Please go ahead.

Okay.

I have had the um opportunity of growing up in the old South End when we had total access to a uh view of the river.

People came to the end of the river, uh, excuse me, the end of our streets to see the fireworks at Walbridge Park and watch the boats go by.

So I've always and just the fishing and the camaraderie resulted from our living near the river.

So even though I'm not living I do not live in the neighborhood, I've been very involved with Broadway Corridor Coalition.

My brother has lived there for 73 years, and I'm totally involved with him.

That's why I happened to see the planning commission by Providence that first at for the first meeting, because I could not believe that this was happening.

In 2021, I wrote a letter explaining when we were getting that money from the uh the big money, the 180 million dollars, etc., about this area of uh where I lived, that it should be a riverside community to uplift the area.

Once the problem is, has been over recent years, that the trees has uh the railroad, it's let the trees grow, and you could not even see the river.

People didn't realize what was on the other side.

The train parked there forever, and I once counted 99 trains sitting on the track.

But about four months ago, I was driving to my brothers, going down my brother's street, and there the railroad was chopping down the trees, and they revealed the river.

And from this side of the river, it's probably one of the best points to see.

I think it's at least four or five miles.

The people that live in Perry'sburg, we can see cars going over the Perrysburg Bridge from our viewpoint in that small area of um between Danny Thomas Park and Town Tower Mummy.

So I want you to know that the neighbors do support solar energy, but this proposal is the wrong project on the wrong site.

This site is part of the old South and Master Plan for green space at the foot of Congress to the Maumee River, was sh which was still designated to be a river park.

And honestly, the residents like it as it is, they're not requesting necessarily a river park because they're enjoying the wildlife in the river.

I want you to know that I have also submitted um, I didn't get them to you in time, but I have a whole um presentation as far as a summary of objections to all the SUP points, and I've summarized them as best I could in this uh presentation.

And thank you for sharing them, Lisa.

So the Lotus Property is uh zone IG, but it's not buffered by industrial uses.

It sets in an inside a residential street grid.

It is directly across from historic homes of longtime residents, and uh it's next to public river access.

The railroad tracks do not function as a buffer.

And when I say historic homes, there's homes there that have been repaired, and uh from 1865 and the late 1800s who uh have upkept their houses and have lived there that long, appreciating living next to the river.

A 1.5 megawatt 4.5 acre installation is an industrial scale utility.

It brings 3,000 tall rows of panels, uh excuse me, 3,000 panels of solar uh uh apparatus.

Mr.

Chair, it's three minutes.

I'll give I'll give you another 30 seconds, okay.

Oh gosh.

Okay.

Well, anyway, this is what I say.

I there's reasonable alternatives, and they're large.

Some of uh well, I've submitted them to you, but I want you to know that this is a heartfelt long-term project uh promise for me that someday the neighborhood would realize the treasure that they have, and I think there are too many.

Uh may I just show you that when I went down and examined the area and I went down to the uh the beach line, I found this, and I did not know what it was.

Fortunately, one of the my neighbors told me, and if you any of you recognize it, it is a lotus pod down on the beach from Lotus Street.

And when I did the plant net, I'm still trying to get people to help me verify.

It came up as the sacred lotus, the Indian Lotus.

I think it's a symbol that we need to very seriously consider what we're gonna do.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Sir, name and address, please.

Hank Thomas, 2253 Goddard Road, Toledo 43606.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

Uh like I said, my name is Hank Thomas.

Uh I'm originally from here.

Uh and I started my uh studies on solar at the University of Toledo and Middle School under the tutelage of uh Dr.

Randy Ellingsson.

Um, and then I went off to Kenyan College and I I studied at uh environmental economics uh and there I uh started a business that supports uh solar projects through these exact types of processes.

They can be very difficult, um, probably as you all have seen um to get through these kinds of processes because they're very complex.

Um but I'm here speaking on behalf of the project uh because it's the right project in the right place, um, and that can be very hard to find.

Um I did just want to uh hit on a couple of things.

Um normally when I work with these projects, they're uh on on a very large scale.

Uh they're uh I'm spread out across Ohio and Indiana.

Um when I was at Kenyan, I was working on 120 megawatts, which uh is covering about uh 720 acres uh down in Knox County.

Uh it's a fantastic project.

Um the project I worked on after that I want to come back to because uh it was actually endorsed by the Audubon Society.

Um I think that should reiterate the fact that um you know some of there have been some concerns about whether or not these projects are in the best interest of the wildlife around there.

Certainly um on behalf of birds, uh they're a very um a very suitable project for these kinds of areas.

Um but let's talk about the positives.

So I want to look at um what the industry lovingly calls LCOE is levelized cost of energy, and that's after you take out subsidies, you have to take out maintenance uh and what the developer called uh their decommissioning uh plans.

Uh solar is the cheapest uh form of electricity.

Uh so when we look at spending grant dollars, when we look at um effectively using city property, this is a great way to do it.

Uh like I said, compatibility with wildlife and water.

Um, I did hear somebody mention um concerns about it being that close to the water.

I would suggest that that person talk to the city of Lima.

Um they recently installed floating solar on their water intake reservoir.

Um, so we could quote studies all day, but I think that speaks volumes.

Uh and then recently I I read um uh Mayor Caps Cavitch's uh um state of the the city, and he mentioned you know strained budgets.

Uh again, if we look at um you know uh public funds being withdrawn, this is a really excellent use of public money um and public land uh that is going to give back to a really excellent organization, which of course we all heard from.

Um then again, just really quickly, because I know you all have heard um a lot about this project, but I did just want to hit on um, you know, a large part of my job is to um help projects uh work with neighbors to dispel some of the misinformation that can be around these projects.

Um highly compatible with wildlife.

Um plants, trees uh like to grow around this.

This actually gives an opportunity for um plants and trees that enjoy shade uh to take root underneath these.

Um again, uh the American Sheep Growers uh Grazers Association finds these panels to be such a good habitat that they actually run sheep underneath uh many of our projects uh across central uh Ohio and into Indiana.

Um that likely won't happen on a project of this size, uh, but it does speak to the compatibility.

Uh that's really all I have.

Thank you for um recommending approval um and thank you in advance for uh formally approving this project.

I think solar is a fantastic use of public funds and public land.

Um and it's even better when you you pair it with a wonderful nonprofit um like the historic South.

So thank you.

Thank you very much.

Sir, name and address, please.

Timothy Fields 5420, Heather Ounds.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, go ahead.

Good afternoon.

Once again, I'm Timothy Fields, the founder and executive director of BSA Community, and also the City of its Toledo brand ambassador.

I'm here today in strong support of the Propose Solar Ray Project in the Old South Ann in partnership with the Historic Soft Initiative and Elevated Energy Solutions.

The OSOFAN is just not another location for us.

It's where our STEM center is being built, and we're actively working with youth families and residents every day.

So we talk about this project.

We're not speaking from a distance, we're speaking from within the community.

Historic Soft has been a strong committed partner in this work.

They understand the importance of not just developing spaces, but developing people alongside those spaces.

This project represents more than a clean energy, it represents alignment.

Because as an investment comes in a neighborhoods like the Old Soft Inn, we have to ensure that people who live there are not just left out from the future being built around them.

At BSN community, we're already prepared preparing for that pipeline.

Through our stone programming, game development, technique, uh technology training, we are capable of equipping youth and the underserved residents within the skills needed to step in emerging industries, including energy, technology, and infrastructure.

The solar project creates a real opportunity to connect with what's already doing directly and what is being built to create pathways within where young people can see, learn, and eventually work in.

We are ready to support this initiative, not just in words, but in action by helping connecting the community members to education training and long-term opportunity.

We support this project because it has the potential not only bring energy to old South End, but to bring opportunity with it.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Name and address, please.

Abigail Dennis, 921 Thurston Avenue, Bowling Green, Ohio.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Um first I would like to apologize.

I did not read my email this morning.

So the information about the park, um, because I practiced, I'm still gonna say it, but that's already been addressed.

So before working in Toledo, my plan after graduation was to join the Peace Corps.

I thought I needed to travel across the world to help communities in need.

But through my time working with Historic South Initiative, I realize that there's meaningful work to be done right here at home.

Um a lot of my time is spent walking in the neighborhood, talking with residents and seeing firsthand both the pride people have in their community and the challenges that they face.

I want to acknowledge that not everyone agrees on this project.

Some residents have voice concerns, and those voices do matter.

Community discussion is healthy, but tonight's decision is about looking at the broader impact on the old South End.

This project uses just under one-third of a 15-acre parcel, which you already know to produce clean energy while keeping the land largely open.

It does not block river views, it does not introduce heavy industrial use long-term, and it comes at no cost to taxpayers.

Under current zoning, this land could instead become a warehouse or industrial facility that permanently changes the character of the area and fully blocks the riverfront.

That is a real realistic alternative we must consider.

The old South End master plan also mentions a possibility of park space, but this site sits next to an active railroad tracks where railroad where rail cars are frequently stored.

Safety concerns alone make a playground or family park unlikely.

And importantly, the neighborhood already has several parks serving residents, including Ashley Park, Danny Thomas Park, and Golden Rule Park, all of which provide recreational space for families.

What makes this project different is the direct benefit to residents?

The solar array will generate roughly one thousand 100,000 dollars of energy dollars every year in unrestricted funds dedicated entirely to the old south end.

100% of that revenue goes back into the neighborhood to support housing stabilization and community reinvestment.

That matters in a community where roughly a quarter of homes are vacant, properties vacant properties attract crime, reduce safety, and signal disinvestment while surveying recently.

Multiple residents expressed surprise that I was walking alone in the neighborhood.

That reaction reflects the reality of vacancy and instability, not the strength of the people who live there.

Stable funding to repair homes and keep residents housed directly improves safety, stability, and quality of life.

This project represents productive land use, environmental responsibility, and long-term investment in people, not just property.

My support comes from time spent listening to residents and choosing to dedicate my career to communities that have historically been underserved.

I respectfully ask the commission to allow this project to move forward to the next step in the planning process.

And even though I work for Historic South now, my term is coming to an end here soon because I'm an AmeriCorps hire.

However, afterwards, I can I plan to continue to attend all of their events because I really do love what they're doing for the community, and I think that this would make a significant impact.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Name an address, please.

Tonda Kazicki, 3929 South Detroit Avenue, 43614.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

I've got a couple of questions.

Um, first of all, I'd like to note um all respect to historic South End organizations and the um the initiatives and to um Commissioner Lopez.

But I got a couple of questions.

Where does the grant money come from?

So I I'll just tackle that.

From from the power they generate, they will sell the original grant money that's being I don't know.

I'm gonna federal federal grant.

I believe it was a HUD grant, if I federal HUD grant.

A federal HUD grant that they received.

Federal fund grant, you said thank you, thank you.

I don't know what that grant is.

Um great though, thank you.

Um it sounds like the old South Fund, and I am from the South End, the regular old South End, South Detroit Avenue, um, near Copeland.

So I'm very much a part of this end of town, also uh Broadway um coalition.

Um but it does concern me when I hear people talk that have addresses that are in Perrysburg or commissioners that live in Sylvania.

When we folks live here, I drive down uh Broadway every single day, and I've seen the great stuff that happens with um Sophia Condel and some of the other amazing groups.

My my biggest thing is maybe we just need to hang on a second.

Maybe we just need to hang on, maybe it can all work.

Have we talked to Metro Parks?

Have we talked to Zoo?

You want to talk to them?

Good.

But have we?

Is there any other things that you know and maybe solar panels are amazing for birds?

I don't really know.

But there has to be some better compromise.

And I just I would just like you guys to take it, take a breather on this and get some more information.

And I think that's all my questions.

The other yeah, the Metro Parks.

You guys have seen what they've done, I'm sure, with Motel Grounds and Glass City and International Cove and connecting all that.

I mean, kind of thinking maybe maybe we should be thinking that.

I know railroads are not always easy to work with, but the easements, and I also was wondering what was up with the um potential contamination that may have happened in the 80s.

Has that been addressed?

I think it's it's bringing up a really good topic in some area that we really need to look at.

Maybe we should do it, maybe we shouldn't do it.

But I think we need more more consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

All right.

Lisa, I would normally ask you about correspondence we've received.

It's there's quite a bit on both sides.

I I know this is a tough case, no matter what we vote today.

Uh some people will be happy, some people will be sad.

Uh so I I appreciate everyone who's come out today and voice their opinions.

This case, after we vote on it, will go to city council.

You will have another opportunity to vote, voice your concerns or opinions to city council.

Um I do have one last comment for the applicant, and then I'll give them uh two minutes to give a closing remark.

If the applicant could step back forward, please.

This is a city-owned property.

It's a grant, it's a federal grant that's gonna develop this.

It's gonna produce resources for the community.

Uh long term, this was in our master plan envisioned as a park, and so what I would ask you to consider is you if if this is approved, as you go forward once electricity has been generated.

Can some of those funds actually be used to turn the remainder of this land into a park that would benefit the community?

So I'm not asking you to say that today, but I'd ask you to consider that.

Um because what a lot of people want is they want to maintain green space and access to the riverfront, and it seems that that's not incompatible with what you're proposing.

So I will give you a final minute or two to make any closing comments, and then we'll vote on this case.

No, I appreciate the feedback.

I think many residents spoke more eloquently than I could or could ever imagine.

Um so I thank them for that.

Uh, in response, I will say the easement with Norfolk Southern is a is a big challenge as far as just getting that.

So we're definitely open to other uses for that land over there, but I think we're at the mercy of the railroads, to be honest.

So certainly we're open to it.

And if not, we're certainly open to uh working with the residents who live closely over there on some specific project, perhaps in the future.

Um thank you all.

I appreciate everybody's comments.

It's important for us that people care enough about a project that they're willing to come and voice their opinions regardless of which side.

So we appreciate everybody's time in being here today.

And be what I wanted to share in closing is because this land is commercially is zoned for commercial industrial.

We believe this is the best and highest use of this property to put a solar array that not only is low impact and has um low it is very um environmentally friendly, but we're taking it a step further by taking the impact of the project and reinvesting it directly back into the community so that it benefits the very people who have spoken here today, and that is very important.

So in partnership with Historic South, that to me is the ultimate act of caring for the community, where you put in something that has long-term value, but then it directly benefits the community.

So thank you again.

Thank you very much.

All right, at this time, I will accept a motion on case number five, which is SUP 26003.

We'll we'll vote on these cases one at a time.

Is there a motion?

Oh, we'll make a motion for approval.

Uh we have to hold a second.

We have a first and a second to approve the application.

Uh all those in favor say aye.

Aye aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

That carries unanimously.

And case number six is MRO 1-26.

I'll accept a motion on that case as well.

We'll make a motion for approval.

Growth order second.

We have a first and a second to approve the overlay case.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

That carries unanimously as well.

The overlay case is done correctly, sir.

That is correct.

It does not proceed.

Yeah.

The special use permit will go before city council planning and zoning on May 20th, 2026.

And that'll be the next step in this process.

Thank you all.

Lisa, I'm gonna case number seven was withdrawn, so I believe cases eight, nine, and ten are companion cases.

Let's read those in together.

Sure.

Item number eight is case Z250038 zone change from RM12 multi-dwelling residential to CN neighborhood commercial at 1322 Burnath Parkway.

Staff recommends approval for the following two reasons.

The proposed rezoning is consistent with the forward Toledo plan and the state of purpose of the zoning code.

And the physical suitability of the site is acceptable for the use is permitted under the existing and proposed zoning classification.

And number nine is case SUP25049.

Special use permit for a gas station and fuel sales at 1322 Burnath Parkway.

Staff recommends approval for the following two reasons.

The proposed use is consistent with the forward Toledo plan and the state of purpose of the zoning code, and the proposed use complies with all applicable provisions of the zoning code.

Staff further recommends approval of the following two waivers.

TMC 1106-0102.

Intensity and dimensional standards, commercial district standards.

Approving a waiver to eliminate the maximum front yard setback requirements.

The site has three frontages and a 50-foot building line setback that's established through an easement on the plat.

So the plat would take precedent over the setback in the zoning code.

Um TMC 1107 1203, parking loading and access, street access.

Approving of a waiver to allow access drive along Tiburon Lane across from residential zoning.

There's restricted access to the residential development adjacent to the west of the subject site.

This apartment complex actually needs this access point to be able for residents to be able to leave.

That's why we're requested we're approving this waiver.

Step further recommends approval, subject to 46 conditions, which will be reflected in the minutes and not read into the record unless there is a request that I do so.

And the last case, item number 10 is case PUD 26005.

I'm sorry, Plan Unit Development for Amendment to the original community unit plan now called the Plan Unit Development for Tiburon Lot 1 at 1322 Burnath Parkway.

Staff recommends approval for the following reason.

The removal from the community unit plan is consistent with the Ford Toledo plan and the state of purpose of the zoning code.

Thank you.

Sir name and address, please.

Yes, my name is Gene Abercrabie.

I'm an attorney with Semarrow Henry, 7255 Crosslee Court, Toledo Ohio 43617.

Here representing the uh the applicant developer, RCP development.

Will anyone else be speaking on your yes?

I have with me.

I'm not sure that they'll be speaking, but uh Rob Porton, managing partner of RCP development, Matt Davis uh of CEO Incorporated, uh the engineer, uh Kyle Ladergaber, real estate manager for Speedway, and Joe Belinski, uh, the real estate broker for the developer.

Thank you, sir.

Uh you're an attorney, so you do not need to be sworn in, but if the others speak, we will swear them in at that time.

Thank you.

Uh tell us about your case.

Yes, as Ms.

Catrell uh mentioned, there are three cases here.

First is the request for the zone change to uh to see on neighborhood commercial.

Uh this property, which was originally developed back in 19 uh the early 1980s is a TGI Fridays, uh, was uh the existing zoning was RM12 multi-uh dwelling residential.

Uh the second is the uh special use permit for gasoline and fuel sales uh with the convenience store, and the third is the uh uh revision or removal of the uh lot one of Tiburon Plat 1 from the community improvement plan.

Bottom line is the three pieces, this the zoning to authorize the appropriate commercial use, uh the removal from the CUP to place the site under the regular review process, and thirdly, the special use permit to authorize the uh the fuel component of the proposed use.

Um, as indicated, this was the former site of the long time TGI Fridays at Airport in Burnath.

The site is about a 2.44 acre parcel at 1322 Burnath.

The current use is vacant.

It has been vacant for some time.

Staff reports, the staff report states that the property was developed as part of a commercial center intended to serve the then Tiburon neighborhood directly to the north, I believe.

Property is vacant, underutilized.

It's a visible source of decline along the corridor.

In late March, this property was vandalized at least once.

Windows broken out, copper piping was stripped from the building.

I submitted about a dozen photos of the damage and current condition of the building.

If anyone did not receive those.

Ultimately, that project was voted down by City Council in a six to five vote.

But it is my understanding that throughout that process there were a number of comments from either council members or from residents stating that the TGI Friday site was a much superior site because of traffic issues, larger site, and that is why we are here today.

The developer's core position here is that they support the staff's overall analysis and accept all of the staff's recommendations and conditions, but objects to the operating hours condition because it undermines Speedway's operating model and project feasibility.

Specifically, Speedway requires 24-hour operation as part of their standard business model.

This is not a minor preference.

It is part of their operating structure and it supports the economics in connection with redevelopment.

Stated another way, speedway will not proceed with the development with hours limitations.

There are multiple 24-hour speedway locations operating successfully within the city today, which demonstrates that the operating model is both common and manageable within the city of Toledo.

Continuous activity can improve site security in the form of consistent activity at the site, professional maintenance, or excuse me, professional management, and ongoing professional maintenance.

This project has multiple economic and community impacts.

First, the project would entail approximately $5 million in new private investment in a site that is currently vacant and non-productive, which will one improve the property tax base, two, create new employment opportunities, three, modernize the site with updated improvements, and four help spur additional development in this corridor by providing a visible sign of confidence in the future of the corridor between Holland Sylvania and Airport Highway, or excuse me, and Reynolds Road along Airport Highway.

The developer met with residents and addressed a number of concerns.

I believe emailed a letter of support to Plan Commission that the development team had worked through concerns and offered tangible solutions directly benefiting the residents.

And in fact, the condominium association passed a resolution in support of the project, including the 24-7 operation.

We know there is quite a bit of opposition to this project.

We we have received copies of the letters that were submitted.

Um the developer represent or excuse me, respects the concerns expressed by residents and does not dismiss them.

However, the record also shows meaningful support from Monterra Community uh condominium community, which is directly adjacent to the west.

This is a commercial corridor site, not an interior residential lot in that it sits on Airport Highway, although access is off of Bernaff.

And this has been an existing uh commercial corridor for more than 40 years.

The opposition sites to a number of uh of issues, uh, one being traffic and cut-through traffic.

Your staff's report acknowledges neighborhood concerns regarding the traffic.

Note staff review of the nearby school bus stop, and the report ultimately states that traffic management believes that the proposed site will not cause an increase in traffic in the neighborhood.

Second, residents point to crime and loitering, in that some residents associate gas uh stations and convenient up convenience operations with crime or loitering, but the staff report notes that literature on this issue is mixed and the correlation does not establish causation.

Uh next, noise and lighting.

Your staff's report states that site lighting must be arranged and directed away from the adjacent residential property, and that the proposed lighting plan meets the regulations.

The policy choice you have in front of you is not uh perfect development and redevelopment, it's between continuing blight and managed reuse.

Uh Mr.

Davis will uh address site design measures to mitigate the quality of life concerns by the neighbors.

Uh at this point, I would ask Mr.

Davis to step forward and talk more specific about the planning of the project.

Sir name name and address, please.

My name is Matt Davis with CESO.

Uh we are the engineer and architect of record for this project.

Um I need the address though.

Address is 2800 uh corporate exchange drive, Columbus, Ohio 43231.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, go ahead.

Yeah, just to kind of address things again.

I know as Jean mentioned, the uh one of the concerns was the noise and and uh light uh issue.

Um we have actually addressed uh a lot of that.

Uh we actually provided the uh planner with the uh photometrics for that site, making sure that it meets all all criteria uh of the city requirements for that so that we we don't have any off you know light going past the uh the property boundaries as well.

Um part of the noise reduction that we do have is is also within the landscaping that we have.

Uh we're taking a existing lot that is all asphalt across there, adding back in green space, uh a bio biodetention uh basin so that that is actually part of the uh stormwater maintenance and management uh requirements that uh that we want to meet.

Um we have also added in an additional on top of just the required landscaping, but we've added added some additional landscaping in regards to trees, uh plantings, shrubbery, uh everything in order again, basically helping reduce any kind of noise, far far less noise than what would become of a uh parking lot that's out there now that basically is hard asphalt that that uh drives the noise across the uh the the lot as it currently sets.

Um we would we actually are again taking a good portion of that and adding green space back in to help one beautify the area, bring some more green space back in, and also kind of that will also mitigate a lot of the noise that that would be from that.

And again, uh trying to address some of those concerns that uh that uh have been brought up uh in this uh and again the the drive to Tiburon that's actually a limited access drive, so that is biggest part of that is for the uh condo uh complex next door because that is one of their main access points.

So that is biggest part of that is for the uh condo uh complex next door because that is one of their main access points.

Uh they will have a cross access agreement with with Speedway and the developer for the uh southern cross access that they that we've tied into because they currently have that there already.

Uh we don't want to disturb that that issue.

So we've we've done that.

We've also addressed some of their concerns with uh with noise, and we're providing a uh privacy wall, not just fence, but actual uh block wall that that will run uh between those two drives.

Um and then again that access uh point off of Tiburon is auto only, will be signed uh on both both ends that uh no trucks allowed uh on both sides of the driveway.

So it's very uh prevalent that you know very visible that that uh large vehicles cannot go down through there.

It is really just for a auto access and more for the the neighborhood and and the uh condos next door.

Thank you.

Um it's definitely the site has some unique characteristics because of the need to accommodate the traffic from the uh apartment complexes to the west.

Um your attorney said that you are in agreement with all the conditions outside of the hour requirement in the initial staff report.

There are some that still need some work.

Uh is there you're comfortable making the changes to accommodate all the requests of the staff in those other conditions?

Yeah, I don't we didn't see any any issue with the uh the comments again with the exception of the 24-hour operation.

Um we we've tried to address again tried to address most of those uh initially, but uh you know we're not opposed to any of the the other comments that have come up.

I was uh mostly curious with the with the auto-related items that the parking plan and the drive aisles.

Um do you have enough room on the site to accommodate the drive aisles and do you have where would you remove the parking from that that I think we're eight spots over as of the initial plan?

How would we where would that be reduced on this map up here?

The let me see if I can get my pointer out here.

So the we would probably be looking at taking these spaces out right here to reduce uh get it down to and and work with those those areas right there to get it down to the the required number.

Okay.

And Alex, where's where's the problematic drive aisle on the map?

Is it the one that is right in front of the store?

You're talking about uh condition 30?

Is that we 32.

32 here.

What's the it's the aisle butting the the handicap spaces?

Yeah, so um it's required that at least one of them is van auto accessible, which requires an eight-foot wide um that striped area right there.

Um and currently it's only five feet wide.

So they would need to expand that to eight.

And and that is actually because in the in the ADA code, there is there's two options.

That is to either have two 11-foot wide spaces with a five-foot striped dial, or you have a eight-foot uh space, an eight-foot striped dial, and and a uh standard parking handicap parking.

Uh speedway actually takes the the approach of in order to accommodate the van act accessible is doing the two eleven-foot wide spaces with the five-foot drive aisle.

So that's how we've kind of we've addressed that uh still meeting all ADA federal ADA requirements as well.

If we need to change that, if that's a uh a sticking point of using option two instead of uh ADA's option one.

I don't believe that would be an issue.

Yeah, so the federal ADA, you're right, has the two options, but locally we we just have the one.

Okay.

So we'll have to go to option two.

That's not gonna impact our parking because again, same space is taken up.

So we can we can address that.

Okay, thank you.

And I was also curious with the plan of the of the development.

Um why there was no request for access to airport highway, um, even if that would have been like a right-only lane.

go to option two that that's not going to impact our parking because again same space is taken up so we can we can address that okay thank you and I was also curious with the plan of the of the development um why there was no request for access to airport highway um even if that would have been like a right only lane there there was actually a we I actually had conversations with city engineer uh in in regards to that and they they highly discouraged any kind of and and really said they don't want any access onto air pi airport highway uh without making major improvements to airport highway which would be widening it just before it gets to the intersection they said it really doesn't work for what the city engineer would prefer so they would recommend and and prefer not to see any kind of access to airport highway that was one thing that we did try to because even the the the client wanted was hoping for like a right in right out but because of its location and proximity to that intersection at Burnath uh it was putting it too close to that as well thank you commissioners questions for the applicant yes Mr Chair I have a question Mr.

Ball go ahead was a traffic impact study completed for the development or a traffic access study completed for the driveways along Burnath Parkway we did not do a the engineering did not require us to do that.

The actual the second drive here and these locations were actually driven by conversation and discussion with city engineering they're the ones that actually push because we originally had this drive here at the north and we had the access drive on to Tiburon they're the ones that preferred that we add this drive and told us that's where would they prefer that drive put in so we actually did work with them on that to get those locations that was actually a a joint effort with the city engineers based on the traffic.

Gotcha and then are there any other improvements roadway improvements in terms of geometry or traffic control that are to be implemented as a part of the project along Bernath Parkway or Tibiron uh no not not as far as roadway improvements because the the turn lanes are are currently already there and and the the engineering did not feel there was any I don't believe felt that there was any need to to change that yeah I think if need be the may have to we may look at the timing light timing and stuff but outside of that any other questions I I just have one so with the in the forward Toledo plan um the this site is called out as wanting to be promote pedestrian oriented commercial development and and obviously this is this is auto oriented and I know there is um pedestrian access from the airport high the existing airport highway uh sidewalk I'm wondering did you give any consideration to um sidewalk access from Tiburon maybe through that sort of new kind of park area I know there is detention there but I don't imagine the full uh area would be uh depressed um so I was wondering just to allow this to be maybe uh a community benefit to be able to walk from their home to a convenience no there would be no issue to ex we've got a a walkway that that goes out here to for the for the employees for the for the dumpster area which is actually moved uh I think from this one we've actually adjusted it just a little bit to the east but uh adding a a walk along that drive I don't think would be an issue um and if we needed a we we try to keep it out of the traffic flow up here right that's why we have this one from airport highway but adding one back to the back here to Tiburon would not cause an issue.

Okay.

Thank you Rachel just before we move on I mean is that something you'd like added to the to the plan or is that just discussion yeah I mean I guess I would see that as as benefit if this were to actually act as a benefit or amenity to the surrounding residents I would see that as something that could be a beneficial ad.

I'd be open to other opinions from the the commission though and and per the zoning ordinance we also there is is bike rack assembly as well back here for more of that pedestrian type you know need as well thank you we'll come back to that is there anyone else from your group would like to speak before I open this up to the audience thank you all thank you sir name and address please Joe Belinski one C gate Toledo Ohio 43604.

Thank you.

Sir, name and address, please.

Joe Balinski, one Sea Gate, Toledo Ohio, 43604.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Go ahead, sir.

Yeah, I just uh wanted to follow up what Jean said earlier that uh I've been doing this for 40 years, and I'm with the Rico Klein Group commercial real estate company, and uh I'm quite familiar with that stretch of airport highway, and it seems like uh I know what the residents would like to see another restaurant go back into this building, start right where they left off another restaurant.

Unfortunately, that ship has sailed, and I don't think that's gonna happen for a few reasons.

One being the building is pretty much in disarray and ready to be torn down.

Second of all, over the past 15-20 years, uh most national retailers and restaurants have chose to that strip of airport highway, and you'll notice most of them have gone down to Spring Radals Commons, which is where Bedbath Beyond is Burlington, or the other side expressway.

So you've got quite a bit of vacancy.

And like I said, that the national retailers and and uh restaurants have chosen to leave this stretch of airport highway and go across the expressway.

Second of all, like I said, that building, even if they could use that building, it's too big for any restaurant to use.

It's 8,000 square feet, it's two and a half acres.

It just doesn't make any sense.

It's cost prohibitive for for uh for these retailers and restaurants to go in there.

So unfortunately, you know, you've got a you've got a property owner that paid two and a half two point six million dollars four years ago that's gonna take a big hit just to do the speedwell deal, because that's the only deal that's come to the table.

He said, I've talked to the listing broker on that property, he said minimal activity over the past two years or three years it's been listed since they vacated.

The only people that have contacted them have been car washers, gas stations, and that's pretty much it.

No restaurants, no retailers.

So I mean, I mean, this is the highest and best use, unfortunately, and I mean I I I just I just think that uh with the state of our state of an art building they're gonna put up and uh with the green space they got between that and the and the uh Burnath Parkway there, I think it's a great use.

Thank you, sir.

If I can just make one final comment before uh you open it up to the general public that I failed to mention uh in my initial remarks.

Um please note that this is a speedway operated location.

It will not be operated by an independent operator or an independent franchisee.

Um this is a corporate commitment on the on the part of speedway, so you can take with that the professional management and uh maintenance that would come along with that.

And uh I look forward to uh concluding after the general public.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, at this time, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak in favor of or opposed to this case?

If so, I'd ask you to do the same thing we did with the last case.

Step up into the aisleway, let's make a line and then we'll take them one by one.

Hi, Eric Chase 1208 Hidden Ridge.

Um Sir, right hand, please.

There we go.

Sorry, I'm gonna get my three minutes solid.

You're ready to go.

I like to.

Yes, and back to work.

Do you swear affirm the testimony you're about to give will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Go ahead, sir.

Can have the renderings back up of the neighborhood, please.

Um, I would take a car wash.

I would take a car wash with a storage facility that sold vapes and porn because it wouldn't be open 24-7, which I know is the big sticking point.

And uh 24-7 means around the clock.

It's not gonna be super packed because that area is not, but it will draw more attention coming off of 475 around the clock.

There is, I didn't know the story about the crime.

Um, and I live this wooded area up top there, there are residents that live back there.

So there is a larger neighborhood that's affected.

I did not know that the condos right there were in favor of it.

That's good because they're closer to their gas station than sheets would have been across the street.

If only Fridays would have melted down six months earlier and sheets could have moved across the street, it would have been great because in my opinion, um sheets is a better operation.

Sheets is a pinera with gas pumps.

Speedway, until you tell me otherwise, is a gas station with pizza warmers.

So I appreciate your comment about the walkway.

Chris, I appreciate your comment asking about the traffic impact study.

Sheets was gonna make a lot of traffic adjustments on their own dime to make that work because it's a very tight intersection with a quick light.

Um typical walkability issue.

So again, Rachel, I appreciate you with that.

Um that area right there is mostly uh condos, but people own those, so I don't want anybody to disparage the fact that they're seen as renters, which I know can be a problem.

Um it is a peaceful, quiet neighborhood.

And speaking to um City Councilman Adam Martinez, he had a great line.

He called it a bedroom community.

If you make it a 24-hour spot, which I know the city is very much against when it comes to that in gas stations, it no longer becomes necessarily a bedroom community.

The only crime in that neighborhood, and by I live down that way on Hidden Ridge.

Tiburon is very brief.

It turns into hidden ridge and bends around.

Um you'll have cut throughs from Honsylvania, but also down further to light it, Lowe's.

So people going in and out, neighborhoods, people that live in the neighborhood like I do, and commute and people driving, bringing the traffic to the area.

Um it's no longer a bedroom community if it's 24 hours.

Obviously, all the gas station stuff I don't have an issue with is at the point they've addressed it.

It's more the micro concerns that I have about disrupting that neighborhood, and the amount of crime in that neighborhood, aside of what I just heard, is um dear.

So the crime will be exponentially increased because there is none now.

Um I work in the media, I have a good gaze of what's going on here.

For the first time in my life living here and adopting this place as a Toledo, and Ryan knows this because we live down the hallway from one another.

Um, I've become dispirated.

Driving around traffic construction recently, we have two, we know this.

We have too many blighted neighborhoods with too many bad streets.

Thank God I'm when I lift downtown um St.

Clair Village, I found a great spot.

We're essentially southwest Toledo, which isn't the thing colloquially, um, with Holland with Springfield Township.

It's a great pocket.

And I think a gas station there could disrupt one of the last pockets of aesthetically pleading pleasing parts of Toledo, and I don't want to lose that with a gas station.

Um maybe they can convince me that they are much like the Sheets Mile, but the 24 hour aspect I know is gonna probably be a no-go for everybody.

If I can plead my case as I did to Sheets, which they didn't listen, and I think Alex uh might have heard this come from me.

Take yourself down to Airport and Reynolds for a variety of reasons.

Here's why.

Everybody wins.

The neighborhood gets to stay as it is, and we all know I preached this to the people on the other side of the road two years ago as someone objective with this.

Something's going in across the street and Fridays.

It could be worse than Sheets.

That's what my argument was for the Sheets.

They would be a good operator.

Something's coming.

We know that.

Couldn't be a gas station.

Let's rezone it for residential.

Go down to Airport and Reynolds.

One, why?

That intersection could probably handle the traffic.

Two, all the people that are at that intersection would love to go to a speedway because there's no gas station in eye shot except for the new sheets down where the bank is.

Nothing.

So they have good sheets didn't want to be in competition with themselves.

Speedway can have that all to themselves at that intersection.

Next up, more blight.

That that shopping center is DOA.

We just had the urban air issue there, you have Athena Academy.

I think all but one store is out of the shopping area that is closer to Lowe's.

Um having a speed player there will act as a magnet to bring other businesses there.

So the city gets a win by the fact that you're revitalizing something that's not on your dime.

There is plenty of space there for the nicest speedway in history.

And again, you keep this project away from what again, Adam Martinez says is a bedroom community.

I'm gonna tell you right now, this is gonna be the same thing as Sheets.

Like I said, hand on that Bible again, even though I'm Jewish as all heck, had had Fridays melted down with the water issue six months earlier, sheets would have been welcomed on that side because my side, where my kind neighbor walks every day and sees me and my dogs, sheets would have been more accepted to the demographic that lives on that side.

You weren't gonna get it past the older folks across airport.

Do you have questions for me?

Sir.

There are three components to this.

I don't know if you can speak to the other ones besides obviously that the 24-hour issue is gonna be a refrain we're gonna hear over and over today.

Um the first case is a zone change.

It's currently zone residential.

They want to rezone it to neighborhood commercial.

Do you have any objection to that portion of the case?

No, like I said, gas station is probably the worst thing.

I I was being histrionic, but I would take a vape porn selling car wash because it's not gonna have the traffic that this place would.

Again, if you're open 24 hours a day, I think that they want to service people 24 hours a day.

The car wash or whatever else is not gonna have that issue.

It will allow the peace and quiet to happen in that community.

And I know in the tele in the forward Toledo plan, walkability is important.

You're gonna cut off some walkability in this area.

It's hard enough to get across airport as it is, and there's not much pe there's not many people walking across that road.

But as somebody who is a big public transit fan and a big fan of Lara's, I want that to be a better corridor as those buses go further out to Spring Meadows.

That means I want more people standing on those corners to get public transit.

With the gas station there, it's maybe good or bad.

Um, I didn't mention that they need to move that school bus stop because the school bus stop right now is at Burnath and Tiburon.

That's a Springfield Schools bus.

They can probably easy move easily move that, but that is not something that they heard they heard addressed.

At this point, uh, they would be right where that uh that black thing is that's on the wall, that's the bus stop.

That has to be moved.

And again, probably pretty easy, but the fact that it wasn't brought up or discussed at all has me a little concerned for the larger issue here.

Go to Airport and Reynolds.

Thank you, sir.

Sean, you can't you can't put me on the news because I'll get in trouble with work.

Sir, name and address, please.

Mike Phillips, 5545 Bentwood Drive.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Sir, go ahead.

May I address this green space here with the homeless going on in Salita Ohio?

Who's going to be hanging out in that green space 24-7?

That's a concern.

That's going to be transient behavior throughout the neighborhood.

The way they colored this, this is homes all the way down the list.

There's homes on the other side of there, so it does present itself a little different than it actually is as far as the photo goes.

The bus stop sits right there in the corner, a further bus stop on the corner beyond that, and another bus stop beyond that for school.

So we've got a situation here.

Turning left off airport with the traffic as it is now, you can get a green light and still sit there and get a green arrow and still sit there because of the traffic and the people in front of you.

That's going to exacerate, exacerbate the traffic situation to a degree where you're going to be sitting in the light two or three times to get through there.

So the green space is my concern.

The 24-7 is my concern.

And the turning left or left on to Bernath is a major situation.

Now we pull out of our neighborhood now to take a right.

Speedway that is not 24-7, so that's a fact.

Now, taking the emotions out of it all.

If we Googled, everybody right now took their phone out and Google property values when a gas station comes in their neighborhood, it's unanimous across the board, property values drop.

And that's a concern to me because I didn't go ahead and I didn't.

When they raised my taxes property value, I said, so be it.

So be it.

I'll benefit because my property is a higher value.

It will be dropped based on the Google and all the information available to me.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you, sir.

Okay.

Sir, name and address, please.

Don Papenfoos, 5544 Bentwood Drive, Toledo.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

So thank you for allowing me to speak on this topic.

Um, just to give you a quick background.

My wife and I have been in this neighborhood for over 25 years.

We had two children we raised from kindergarten through college, and now they're living in Columbus and married.

So we've been in that neighborhood a long time with a lot of other neighbors that are our age, and because of the area that we live in, it's still a transient from young couples, young people moving into the neighborhood that they're proposing to put the gas station in.

And so there's a lot of young people around there.

So my concern is with schools, buses, and the increased traffic that that will generate.

Is that the best place to put a gas station of any kind, whether it's sheets, speedway, or any other S gas station you can name?

I say no.

One of the things that I don't understand is yes, sheets got turned down two years ago, and now we're revisiting it again with a different company.

This company within a less than two mile radius has three speedway gas stations where they want to propose this one, two on airport highway, one on Reynolds Road.

So why do we need a fourth one in this area?

I don't get it.

The other point I have is if you look up areas of high crime or where high crime is committed, there's a big one right there.

And why is that?

Because you have a 24-7 access, you have high cash that's always going to be in there.

You have low employees, and you have easy in and easy out for that crime to be committed.

So nationally, that is a bad place to have crime because it happens frequently.

All of you in front of me can download an app that I have called crime radar.

And what it does is you type in your street, it'll give you what's going on in the city of Toledo.

Speedway has numerous robberies and things adjacent to that allow and the police will have to respond to that.

That's happened repeatedly on the airport as well as a South Reynolds.

So why would we want to add one more blight to that?

I'm not opposed to revitalizing that area, but just to put something there to put it there doesn't make sense to me in the grand scheme of things.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Name and address, please.

Robert Trose 5556 forced green drive for Toledo.

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

I think they put it bluntly, 24-7 or not.

If they are not willing to pursue this uh project unless they have 24-7 access, it's dead on arrival.

It should be dead before it even arrives.

Uh I agree with everything that my predecessors have said.

I think the site at Reynolds and Airport would be a much better site.

There's a building for sale right there.

Used to be a liquor store.

Before that, I think it was a Pier 1 import store.

And I think it would be a much better site.

And speaking to the realtor who spoke, roosters just went into the old fire station.

So there's always a possibility that a restaurant would come in and move into that vacant Friday's restaurant.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Lisa Heinrich, 5435 Bentwood Drive, Toledo, Ohio, 43615.

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate if so, say I do.

I do.

It's the only time I've ever said that.

As a resident of this area for over 30 years, I am vehemently opposed to the construction of a speedway on Burnath.

The residents in this area fought the construction of Sheets a year ago, and I am frustrated beyond belief that here we are again fighting the same fight with a different gas station convenience center to bastardize Shakespeare gas station by any other name is still not wanted in my neighborhood.

I felt our opposition to Sheets was voiced loudly, clearly and strongly, but it seems money speaks louder than we do.

And I sincerely wish that the government, whether it's local, state, or national, would actually listen and hear the views, wants, needs, and opinions of those that elect them.

You I would like you to fight just as hard as we are, all of my neighbors, to save our neighborhood.

We all walk in that neighborhood as he said.

You want people to continue to live in city limits, do you not?

I mean, isn't that a goal?

Yes.

Well, when businesses encroach upon neighborhoods, that's when you see people move out.

That's when you see growth in White House, Waterville, Monclova, and the like.

That is why.

Let's see, wait a minute.

I'm very emotional about this issue.

We want safe neighborhoods, green spaces in which to live our lives.

The benefits are numerous.

Uh improved physical and mental health, increased safety and stronger community ties in addition to nature conservation.

This is what we want for our neighborhood.

This is what we're asking from you to decline this.

And I love that Speedway has has done a beautiful rendering of what they propose that this will look like.

What do you have?

46 speedways in the city limits.

Not a one of them looks like this.

Not a one of them.

So it's lovely, but it's not going to happen.

And they said they don't want continuing blight.

Someone mentioned that.

If the speedway goes in, that will be an area of blight.

Drive around and look at any speedway property in this city, and that is blight.

Thank you.

Name and address, please.

My name is Gloria Walker.

My address is 5749 Fire Thorn Drive.

Please raise your right hand.

43615.

Thank you.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Okay.

Go ahead.

If you will indulge me, you're Alex.

Okay, Alex.

I had talked and wanted to take a picture of what they're gonna bring into our neighborhood.

And you can enlarge it.

But what I want to say while you're looking at the picture.

I've been living on Fire Thorn for over 31 years.

I'm a widow.

And when I sold my house after my husband died, I told the realtor, realtor, where I would like to live.

I remember that area when I was very young.

And when he showed me the condo, I was elated.

Because at nighttime is quiet.

I'm not afraid.

I have a little dog that I walk every day through the neighborhood.

I'm not afraid.

But if this gas station comes in, I would not be able to walk my little dog without fear.

And I will have to find another area.

I would not be able to sleep peacefully if this gas station comes in.

I think it's very unfair to people that don't live in the area.

People that come, thank you, Alex, come from out of town.

I think it's unfair when the truth is not really told in regards to the opposition of this uh gas station.

Our neighbors, they may not be here, but there's a lot of information that Alex has in regards to letters, emails, phone calls that will support the fact that we do not want this gas station in our neighborhood.

Number one, I like pretty things, and speedway is very ugly, very ugly.

Looking at sheets, I like the way sheets look, but that's a very ugly gas station speedway.

And our neighbors, we all try to keep our property up.

I, for one, for years, when there's litter down the street, I live on Fire Thorn, I have to walk down to Bet Burnett.

I would get my little bag, I get my little gripper thing, and I will go down and I will pick up the trash.

That's where I live.

That's my home.

And if this comes in, if this comes in, it's gonna destroy everything.

It's gonna destroy our freedom, it's gonna destroy our peace of mind.

They can go someplace else.

When they're talking about another restaurant coming in, that's not their concern.

Go someplace else.

So I'm just asking.

I get emotional, excuse me.

Please, please don't approve this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Name and address, please.

Lisa Cunningham, 5529 Bentwood Drive, Toledo, 43615.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Much has been said already, so I don't have a whole lot to add, but I do want to say that I attended the meetings last year when Sheets was denied a permit.

Um nothing has changed, nothing in the area has changed, except yeah, TGI Fridays has some holes in it now that weren't there before.

Okay.

Um, as a local resident, I was not aware of the neighborhood meeting that happened on February 12th.

Don't know where it was posted.

Apparently, 15 people were there, but knew nothing of it, or we would have heard a little bit more.

Um years ago, first of all, it was the drug stores on every corner that we needed that we got these drug stores.

Now they're boarded up buildings.

There's we don't need them anymore.

There's being sold.

Then it was the car washes.

How many car washes do we need in our area?

How many cars do we have that sit empty?

One not even opened that's been sitting there for at least six minutes, sit six months or longer.

So we don't need car washes.

Do we need gas stations?

Do we need more gas stations?

I have a list here of a dozen gas stations that we have nearest speedway or the proposed speedway.

Um 12 of them are within seven minutes driving, 3.3 miles, and nine of them are 24 hours.

Have you been up after midnight and traveled the area?

I work nights, I'm out there.

People aren't out there to support 10 24-hour facilities.

Why do we need 10 24-hour facilities?

On our way here, there was three gas stations on the corridor of Burn and Airport.

Three.

Each corner almost, except the cemetery.

Why do we need three gas stations?

We are citizens are looking at you guys to say, stop.

We don't need any more gas stations.

Of this area here within 3.3 miles, there are four speedway stations.

6757 Airport, 7155 Airport, 2510 South Reynolds, and on Door Street.

So there's four of them within the 12.

Do we need a fifth one?

Um to the seller of the property.

Okay, TGIs has gone down, they've been sold, but what have they done to search for a tenant?

Somebody that's gonna come in and improve the place, or maybe you know, make changes because TGI Fridays did make the change when they moved in, like a dozen years later.

They changed that.

So does he get out there and see, you know, put it out there?

Hey, I have a restaurant here.

Um, look for different local or different places that would come.

Um greaters, greaters, I'm looking places.

Ma'am, just because we we gotta keep it moving.

I I understand that there could be infinite other users of this site, but what we're we're asked today to look at is the gas, whether the gas station's appropriate.

But I just has the has the effort been put forward to find another restaurant, okay?

There's no restaurants on this side of 475, but Roosters has done very well.

If you drive past there, it's full.

Texas Roadhouse, same thing, full.

That's this side of 475.

So it has the potential of getting people there, okay.

Um it says the staff staff recommended the approval because the site can fit a station.

Can it really?

It's like a glove, you know.

Can it really?

Um, but the quick big question is do we need another gas station in the area?

Um I think that's about it.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate you guys considering pulling it.

Thank you very much.

That's it.

Okay, we're gonna take one more.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Teresa Vaselka, and I live at 1155 Burnath Parkour.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Go ahead.

I felt like I had to get up here because I live on Burnath.

I uh used to buy rental homes, and I bought Burnath as a rental house in 2017.

And you know what?

I like the neighborhood so much, I stayed there.

I also have 1157 Burnath, which I had to buy it separately for some reason it's a multi-unit and it had to be sold separately.

I also bought another uh multi-unit down the street, and I have since sold that one.

But it's an amazing neighborhood.

However, it is a cut through neighborhood already because Holland Savania traffic comes down Firethorn to Burnath, then they head out to Airport Highway.

They also head down Burnath to Green Ridge, and Greenridge takes them out to another street to Airport Highway.

We're already a cut through neighborhood.

We've complained about the cut through.

You put speedway on the corner there.

When they can't get out at Burnath and airport, they're gonna just turn right.

No, turn left out of the speedway and go and go down Green Ridge to the other exit.

It's going to become a terrible cut through.

Traffic, we have dogs, we all walk the neighborhood.

Little kids, it's a family neighborhood, and we really want to keep it that way.

And I appreciate your taking that into consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Brandon may have one more comment.

I'll I'll allow one more comment.

30 seconds, all I need.

As representative or owner of Speedway, I'd say can how can I double my exposure?

Well, make logical sense as a businessman to move a non-Rental to an airport highway where it's monster open ground right there.

And the access and the traffic would increase my volume and profitability.

I'm confused why they haven't looked at that spot.

They would have no problem.

Nobody would rise at these meetings and say stop it.

They'd say, fine, let's do it.

It's empty.

That's a blight.

That's an empty spot.

So I'm curious why you haven't investigated that spot.

Thank you.

I'm going to give them an opportunity to respond to all these comments in a in a moment.

Alexander In your packet commissioners, there's a report from Alex of numerous calls, other correspondence we've received.

We have letters and other uh emails and other materials in our packets.

So Alex, I'm not going to make you go through all of that, but I just wanted to put in the record that all of those correspondences are here and they're in your packets for review, Commissioners.

And can I also add um since I sent it to you yesterday, I have received uh let's see, one more call and a couple other letters.

Those letters were put in your packets.

Um, but then that one other call.

Again, thank you very much.

Mr.

Chair, before the applicant responds, um, I would like to make a comment regarding the traffic.

Mr.

Paul, go ahead.

So I I am a traffic engineer by trade.

Um I will say uh first, so there there are three primary issues here that I'm hearing.

Uh one is the 24-hour operation.

Uh the second is the traffic.

Um, and then the third is the I can't remember the third.

Um but uh in terms of crime.

Crime, there you go, crime crime.

I can't speak to the crime or the 24-hour.

Um I can speak to the traffic.

Uh I do traffic impact studies for developments just like this all over the country.

Uh I'm not terribly concerned with the traffic along airport.

Uh I am more concerned with the driveway configuration along Burnath Parkway.

Um, not super concerned.

There are a few things that I would maybe like to see a little bit different.

Um I will add some context and say the intersection of airport and Reynolds is one of the highest crash intersections in the state of Ohio.

Um and introducing a gas station to that equation is uh it's you're open at a whole can of worms that this site is much easier from a traffic standpoint than the site that the applicant has proposed.

Um and so I say that to say um uh as a traffic engineer, I would not be terribly concerned with the traffic associated with this development and that the from a traffic standpoint, the airport and reynolds location is much much more difficult.

Thank you, Mr.

Ball.

Anything else?

I do have it before before the applicant responds.

I do have a technical question regarding the third case.

The removal of the removal of the of the lot from the PUD.

Um that's that's a platted PUD, correct?

That's correct.

So how how how is it how can we remove it without amending the plat?

I think you could easily it it's it's a separate lot.

It wouldn't affect the platelets separate, so it was a separate case.

So whatever usements and reservations currently appear on the plat would continue to affect the property because it's the plat itself has not been amended.

That's true, but we have had other examples of cases being pulled out of a PUD.

Um, the underlying plat, the restrictions easements still remain.

It's the the PUD itself is the only thing that changes.

Okay.

I just wanted to make sure that that issue was addressed.

Okay.

Uh we're gonna give a few minutes.

There was qu quite a bit of comments.

I think Mr.

Ball summed it up.

Crime traffic and the opposition to the 24 hour request.

Those are the main issues.

I I think we'd like to hear the applicant's response.

Yes, thank you.

Um as you can hear, understandably the residents are concerned and emotional about this.

We we get that.

Um I I'd like Mr.

Balinski to come back up and talk about some of the uh brokerage related issues that were kind of raised uh by some of the residents.

Mr.

Belinsky, you're already sworn in, so just go ahead.

Uh yes, uh regarding that roosters.

Uh I happen to be the broker that did that deal, and uh we did present the site, the Friday site, and they did not even want to tour look at it, didn't like the location.

Uh it was a hard sell on the on the uh firehouse site just because they want took it eventually because the access to the expressway and being across the entrance of St.

John's.

But we did present that site to them, and they did not even want it on the uh on the tour sheet.

Second of all, there are no properties available at airport rentals, and I agree with you as far as the traffic.

And uh I did that car wash drill there, and I'm still hard to believe they did that deal.

There's gonna be a medium going up there eventually, I would think, or a boulevard, so to speak, but there are no properties available at airport rentals, so that's not an option for speedway.

Second of all, I can I can appreciate and share their frustrations about you know, I'm I'm uh board member surveying the township zoning.

So I sit on the board and I see these cases all the time when I sit on that side.

So I I I I think I got that hat on.

As a matter of fact, I've got a dollar tree that went right across from my subdivision that I approved.

And my wife didn't speak to me for a month.

So I mean, I I I I share your frustration and you know at the end of the day, you're on airport highway.

You know, I mean, airport highway is a major retail corridor.

I mean, that's why the gas station wants to go there.

I'm sure they did their due diligence or homework.

They wouldn't want to open six stores within a stone's row from each other if it didn't make economic sense to them.

So I'm sure they did their due diligence.

It is airport highway.

So I'm just like I said, I I got a dollar tree and it took me a while to get back on good grace.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Rob, did you want to uh make some comments?

Uh yeah.

Um before Mr.

Horton gets up, um, one thing I'd like to point out as well is is there was a lot of commentary about the number of of gas stations and such.

We acknowledge that, but the gas station convenience store industry is changing rapidly.

The old style um gas station with a very small convenience store is becoming a thing of the past.

You're starting to see more locations like the the modern sheets or the modern speedway uh or some of the others.

So a lot of those other stations um are probably gonna end up getting redeveloped at some point, but they're not adequate for today's needs because today's model relies much more on the convenience sales than just the the fuel sales, and and Rob can speak to that in more detail.

Right, sir.

I need your name and address.

Yeah, sure.

Rob Horton, 3033 North Clark, Chicago, Illinois.

60657.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Yep.

Um yeah, thanks, Gene.

And just to dovetail that, yes.

I mean, speedways um are you know, they have a lot of locations in Ohio, they've been here for a long time.

This is the new modern state-of-the-art store.

This is the future of their stores.

Um we think it's a really good looking store, and it um, you know, has more square footage, has it sells more everyday needs that that everyone uh can use.

So that to answer that question, and then we're also working on the bus stop issue because that did come up during the neighborhood planning, and uh we are gonna be providing uh some sort of a bus stop there.

Um, and we're just finalizing that, but that will be you know part of our our final plan.

Um, again, we just it that speaks to our you know, we we took neighbors' condition conditions, neighbors uh feedback, and we tried to implement you know as as much as we can, and I think of all those conditions, you know, we were basically meeting all of them.

Um and so that's why you know we're here today to just kind of at least for me talk from an ownership development perspective on you know this piece of land um that you know right now it's vacant, it's deteriorating um and it's not on the tax rule uh in its current form.

Um, you know, it's a specialized restaurant uh that is probably not gonna get backfilled uh for many years.

Uh so the real question is whether or not this becomes commercial, it's already commercial today.

Uh you know, the question is remember if it's blighted, underperforming, uh, or if we you know reinvent it into something that's that's productive.

So the proposed speedway works because uh this corridor supports the level of investment required to redevelop the site, uh, brings a consistent activity and management to the area that currently has none.

Um you know, the 24 operation 24 hour operation is all new gas stations of the future.

The sheets of the world, all the you know, everyone needs to have 24 operations.

Uh it's it's how they make their numbers work.

Um, and without that, the project isn't feasible to move forward.

Um so from our perspective, continuous 24-7 operations uh is better than being dark at night and closing at 24-7.

We got someone there, we've got security cameras, we've got lights on.

Um, you know, it's it's always occupied, always active.

Um, you know, we're we're proposing to make a five million dollar investment into the community in what's currently a non-productive uh property.

We're gonna improve the tax base, create dry jobs, and reinvest in this corridor.

Um again, we we understand we respect the concerns that the neighbors have raised.

Um we've you know sat down with them, we've sat down with the adjacent condo owners, we made many concessions with them.

We're we're um giving them some of their parking back.

Um, and we're building a privacy wall, and we are doing things that you know uh uh you know they believe is gonna long term you know help them.

So, you know, they've written a letter of support um you know for this, and they're the direct adjacent neighbor uh to us on that.

So um I'd like to just kind of close, you know, the the end of the day, we're trying to you know revitalize uh a corner that's kind of slowly dying as it's getting vandalized.

Um, and we respectfully uh are looking for your approval and and with the 24-hour access.

Thank you very much.

Commissioners, Mr.

Rakoff, if I may.

Go ahead, Mr.

Abercrombie.

Thank you.

Um, one uh final comment on my part.

There was a question raised by one of the residents about what has the owner done to try to find another restaurant use.

Uh Mr.

Balinski informs me that it has been listed since uh Friday's closed with Goodman Real Estate out of Cleveland, which is uh one of, if not the top retail broker in the state, and is Mr.

Uh Balinski uh testified to earlier.

He talked with the listing broker earlier today, I believe, who indicated that there had not been any interest in uh restaurant use.

So I wanted to make that clear for the record.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I have one follow-up question about the 24-hour nature of the of the site.

The Fridays obviously was not a 24-hour operation.

Correct.

So for those that would feel so those that feel that this putting a 24-hour business on this would change the character of the neighborhood itself.

How do you respond to that concern?

Um, I guess the way that I would respond to that concern, and it's echoing some of Mr.

Horton's comments earlier, that there would be somebody there consistently.

It would be well lit, well maintained, um, wouldn't be dark at night.

Um so that really is is how I would address that issue.

Thank you.

Commissioners, any additional questions for the applicant?

Mr.

Chair, I have one more question.

Go ahead, Mr.

Ball.

Was any consideration given to aligning the northern driveway with the driveway for the Tim Hortons across the street across Burnath Parkway?

Uh actually uh that was uh our initial design concept with as we worked through this uh was initially to line that up with that drive.

But due to the fact the city engineer wanted us to add that that second drive to the south to give the clearance needed between the two drives, we needed to shift that that northern drive further north.

They said they were not opposed to it not lining up with that one across the way.

We typically try to do that.

Okay, but but that was not in this case.

We we were limited because they wanted us to add the second drive on Burnath there.

Okay.

Um and I did just want to say one more thing about the architecture, and because I know it's been said, you know, talking about previous others, the older speedways around.

Um this is the new speedway model.

This is the the new look of of all speedways moving forward.

Um so this is we've actually customized this one even further than what their standard is just to make sure we meet the city's requirements uh with the brick and the the panel additional panels and things of that nature.

So we've kind of gone above and beyond even what our standard, what the standard one is now, but this is the standard look.

It is a more updated look, more more modern look, and that's what all of them we've been doing them for for several years.

That's what all the new ones are looking is to look like this.

So they they don't look if you go look at the old the ones around in that that radius, those are gonna be 10, 15, 20 years old.

They're not going to look like this, because again, this is this is the new branding and model for them.

Thank you.

Are there any additional questions?

One one final thing I would like to state again for the record.

Uh there was referenced by a resident earlier that if Fridays had closed earlier, sheets could have been on this location.

Uh sheets, in fact, had this property under contract and selected to come forward with the other corner.

So keep that in mind that it wasn't just by pure happenstance that you're dealing with speedway versus sheets.

And in my opinion, that really what you're looking at is the appropriateness of the use.

And I heard a lot of speedway bashing and a lot of fan uh of sheets, but I don't believe that that is an appropriate uh consideration for you.

Uh as uh Mr.

Davis mentioned, this is the new model, so the existing speedways don't look like this.

This is what the future is.

Uh we respectfully request that plan commission vote to approve all three matters.

Uh removing the hours of operation uh condition.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

May I just make one more comment?

It'll be very brief, really.

All right, I'm gonna allow I'm gonna allow one final comment.

This gentleman is from Chicago.

I ma'am, ma'am.

If you're gonna make any comments, you have to do it the microphone because we need it on the record.

The leasing company is out of Cleveland, correct?

I'm living I've been a broker here in total for the no no no who who's leasing it that you said that's what I said company.

The brokerage out of Cleveland.

This gentleman who is speaking is out of Chicago.

Who's out of Toledo that has a vested interest?

I I understand.

Do you know what I'm saying?

We we I know, but we also we also have other cases we still need to hear today.

So we have we have to move to a vote on this one because there are other people that are gonna be waiting for for some time still to get their cases heard.

So uh I I am a lifelong resident of the city of Toledo area, grew up in Springfield Township, currently live in Monclova Township, served 15 years on the Connect Toledo Executive Committee.

I've got center to to what I do and what I believe in is redevelopment, responsible redevelopment.

I don't know where Joe grew up, but Joe's been in in this market for at least 40 years as well.

Um the fact that there is a lot of people.

I'm gonna stop you.

Just understood.

The applicant does not need to defend themselves or who they are, nor do the neighbors need to defend who they are.

Everyone's entitled to an opinion.

We we're gonna, sir.

I know can I throw an objective thing out?

I think I'm sorry, I'll come up real fast and cut me off.

Um think Fridays had melted down before she said no.

I think they said no after.

This is this is not a cheap speedway thing.

Okay, I then let's do this.

Let's not get stuck, and this is all I have to say.

Let's not get stuck in the binary of restaurant versus gas station.

It's commercial.

We have we have three things on our agenda today to decide whether this site should be rezoned to a commercial neighborhood zoning classification, okay, whether a special use permit should be awarded for a gas station, and whether this site should be removed from the old planned unit development.

Okay.

We're gonna address those issues.

So I'd ask everyone to understand that it's not about who the applicant is or who the neighbors are.

We're gonna we're gonna address the zoning and land use issues now.

I'm gonna ask we we have several initial items we have to address before we can even vote on the case.

Uh there are there are a couple waivers that are required in case number nine to facilitate this plan.

The first one is to uh change the setback requirement to eliminate um the 50-foot building line setback, because the plat that TMC setback differs from the platted development.

This will eliminate the maximum 35 foot front yard and the the plat allows the 50 feet.

This is actually for the maximum setback in the in the CN zoning.

Okay.

So the first thing I'm gonna do is I'm gonna ask if there's a motion to grant the waiver to allow the 50 feet front setback instead of the 35 feet setback.

Well, we'll make a motion to approve the waiver.

Okay, we have a first and a second to approve that waiver.

Uh all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

So that element is modified so that that setback can remain 50 feet instead of 35.

The second waiver item is the it's the drive access along Tiburon, correct?

Correct.

So you're waiving the prohibition of a curb cut against residential zoning, and this is because of the cross access requirement between the apartments and the commercial use.

There is no other access for them.

Right.

And so the special the special needs of those residents is why we're considering allowing that access drive out into Tiburon.

So I will ask if there's a motion to approve the waiver to allow that access drive.

Paul seconds.

All right.

We have a first and a second to approve the waiver for the access drive.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

The next item we're going to come back to.

Rachel, you had made a request.

You had suggested the idea that a sidewalk should be added to the site plan along that access drive to create more walkability and connectivity.

So is the chair I'm going to make a motion that the site plan or that the that the conditions be amended to include a condition to add a sidewalk along the access drive leading to Tiburon.

Is there a second to my motion?

I'll second it.

We have a first and a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

So that is a requirement of the development now.

That sidewalk.

Just to just so everyone's aware.

The next thing is probably are going to be our uh most controversial decision.

Uh we have a request from the applicant to remove condition 28 from case number nine.

The hours of operation shall be limited from 530 a.m.

to 1 a.m.

And so uh I will ask if there's anyone who would like to make a motion to that effect.

All seconds.

All right.

We have a first and a second to approve that removal.

Lisa, I'm gonna ask for a roll call vote on this.

Okay.

So yes will be to remove the condition number 28.

Okay, mommy.

Nay, no.

Wittington?

Yes.

Right up.

No.

Paul?

Yes.

Grossweiler.

Yes.

All right.

That passes three to two.

That condition is removed.

So next we will look to case number eight.

Case number eight is the zone change to commercial neighborhood.

I will accept a motion on that case.

Z25-0038.

Gross order makes a motion for approval.

Mamini will second.

We have a first and a second to approve the zone change.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

The zone change will move forward to city council.

The next item is the special use permit.

The special use permit request as amended.

I will accept the motion at this time.

SUP 25-0049.

Growth Firm makes a motion for approval as amended.

All seconds.

We have a first and a second to approve the zone or the special use permit.

Um let's do a roll call vote again, Lisa.

Momini.

Whittington.

Ray Cop.

No.

Paul?

Yes.

Grossweiler.

Yes.

Case is denied.

The SUP is denied by a vote of three to two.

That'll go to council with a recommendation for disapproval.

Final case.

SUP or PUD26-0005 case to remove the lot from the community unit plan.

I'll accept a motion on that case.

Gross order makes a move.

Motion for approval.

Mommy will second.

We have a first and a second to approve that application.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Okay.

That passes unanimously.

That case will also go to city council with a recommendation for approval.

So this case will be before city council on May 20th, 2026 at 4 p.m.

in these chambers.

The zone change and the removal from the plan unit development will go to them with a recommendation for approval.

And that is all we're going to do on this agenda today.

I thank everyone for being here, and you're welcome to attend that meeting with city council.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Case number 11, please.

Um, Mr.

Chair, if we go back to SUP 26003, we did not act on the waiver request for the gravel.

For which one?

SUP 26003, the Lotus Avenue.

So that'd be items five, item number five.

All right.

We're gonna recall case number SUP 26-0003.

There was a recommended waiver by our staff for to not have to pave the drive aisle.

Correct.

Um we voted to approve that case.

Um as the chair, I'll vote.

I'll I'll make the motion that we amend that vote to add uh a waiver of that requirement for the drive the paving of the drive aisle.

Is there a second to my motion?

And a second.

We have a first and a second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye, any opposed?

Okay, that carries, and that uh vote in favor will be amended with that waiver.

Case number 11, please.

Item number 11 is case SUP 26010, special use permit for a new charter school at 3300 Glendale Avenue.

Staff recommends approval for the following three reasons.

The proposed use meets the stated purpose of the zoning code.

The proposed use complies with all applicable provisions of the zoning code.

The proposed use is compatible with adjacent uses in terms of scale, site design, and operating characteristics.

Staff for the recommended approval subject to 13 conditions which will be reflected in the minutes and not run to the record unless there's requests that I do so.

Welcome.

Thank you for being patient with us today.

I was gonna say good evening, but it's just not quite there.

Name and address, please.

So my name is Paulette Hare.

I'm the director of operations for Oakmont Education.

Uh my address is 481, North Cleveland Maseline Road, Akron, Ohio.

It's 4433.

You please raise your right hand.

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Ma'am, tell us about the case.

So um I'm here from Oakmont Education.

We are looking to put a drop-in um recovery high school in the it's the Southern Shopping Center, Southern, Great Southern Shopping Center, um, over on Bern and Glendale.

Um so we are here today just to ask for a special use permit.

Um we are putting in a the charter school will serve students 15 to 21.

Um we focus on dropout recovery education.

Um we will be offering both a high school diploma at the location and the option for career tech certifications in culinary, construction, advanced manufacturing, business, um, and health care.

So we do uh already operate 22 schools in the state.

Um we have schools out of state at this time as well.

Um we are proud to say that all of our schools right now exceed or meet standards in the state on the Ohio Report Guard.

Um we have 139 students that graduated last year.

We're proud of that number of those students.

We placed 81 of them, 81% of them in job placement right out of high school.

We follow our students for a year after high school to make sure that they're successful in their jobs.

Um we stay them with them after that to provide removal of barriers that they're having.

We would never turn them away once they go through our program, they're part of our family forever.

Um it's one thing that we're really proud of.

Um I open to questions because I could really go on for a while.

Um we're very proud of what we do.

Um, but I would be happy to answer questions for you.

Um I do want to mention that we did receive some comments.

We did submit already some changes to meet the comments that were requested.

Um we're happy to meet the requests that were added and any adaptation that they required.

Okay, I'll st I'll start with that as my first question.

Uh there were 13 conditions of approval.

Some of those originally were non-compliant.

I think you've submitted now something that corrects that.

And you're you're comfortable with all 13 conditions of approval.

We are.

Okay.

Thank you.

Um I'm curious just about your mission.

Where do you locate the students?

So students are located in a couple different ways.

Um, one is um definitely word of mouth and referrals once we start to have students in our programs.

However, we do work um and we will strive to really gravitate to the community schools to speak with the appropriate staff members.

So sometimes it's guidance, sometimes it's the assistant principal, sometimes it's an associate superintendent.

Um we work directly with them to help identify students that have either dropped out already or students that are at serious risk for dropout, usually meaning they're at least a year behind in their credits for their normal maturation to graduation.

So we do work with a lot of different services.

We work with the course systems, we've worked with the parole services.

We offer locations for them to meet with students that are on parole or that are have parole officers.

Um we work with local, I guess I should say mental health agencies.

We actually invite them in to be with our students to work with them as needed.

We offer them space for that.

Um so there's lots of places that our students come from.

And really, we're just looking to open the door to as many students and opportunity youth that are out there that need support.

Thank you.

And are your hours traditional school hours or are they expanded hours?

Uh they're somewhat expanded.

Um they are usually 7 30 to 4.

We do offer two sessions, which is nice for our students that do have to work and are employed.

Um so we will offer a morning session and an afternoon session, and students will be assigned to attend one or the other.

So thank you.

Commissioners, additional questions for the applicant.

Hearing none, I will ask, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak on this case?

Alex, any calls, emails, or other correspondence in advance of today's hearing?

I did receive one call who voiced her opposition, and her chief concern was uh an increase in crime from the school.

Interesting.

I I think that that is a good reuse of a portion of that shopping center.

And it's certainly it's certainly an uh an enviable mission you've taken on.

So I think at this time I will ask if uh if there's no further questions for members of the commission, I will accept a vote on this case SUP 26-0010.

Uh Wittington will make a motion to approve.

Well seconds.

We have a first and a second to approve the application.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

That carries unanimously.

And you will be back here also on the 20th, I believe, of May in front of City Council.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Good luck to you.

Thank you.

Case number 12, please.

Item number 12 is case SCP 26006, special use permit for scrap and salvage facility at 5400 North Detroit Avenue.

Staff recommends approval for the following three reasons.

The proposed use meets the state of purpose of the zoning code.

The proposed use complies with all applicable provisions of the zoning code.

And the proposed use is compatible with adjacent uses in terms of scale, site design, and operating characteristics.

Staff further recommends approval of the following waiver, TMC 1104-2701.

Use regulations, scrap and salvage operations setbacks, approval waiver to allow scrap and salvage trucking operations to occur within 100 feet of Detroit Avenue.

Staff is supportive of this waiver because trucking operations have existed in this location since before the scrap and salvage had been established.

Um furthermore, adequate screening should mitigate any impacts.

Step further recommends approval, subject to 27 conditions, which will be reflected in the minutes and not read into the record unless there's a request that I do so.

Thank you.

Who's going to speak on behalf of your group?

We'll we'll both come and you both give us your name and address, and then we'll swear you both in.

Sarah Henchcliffe, and it's 5400 North Detroit Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, 43612.

Thank you.

Dennis Stropko, uh also representing 5400 North Detroit Avenue, uh, Toledo.

You please both raise your right hands.

Do you swear and affirm that the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate if so, say I do.

I do.

I do.

Tell us about the project or the request.

Okay, so uh we've been at this location since 2008.

Um a good community citizen.

We've been uh we're in compliance with all stormwater and environmental rights air pollution regulations.

So uh the applicant and owners identified as 5400 Detroit Avenue LLC, and that is the landlord that owns this whole property.

Uh resource reclamation Toledo, which is the scrap operation that is seeking the special use permit, occupies the north half approximately of this site.

So there are other tenants and tenant space available on this location that are not related to scrap processing.

So we just want to make you you know make that clear that you understand this is this uh we do not encompass this this whole entire property.

Um further we are not the traditional scrap operations that you might be thinking of, like a pick and pull type operation or a peddler operation or an auto shredder.

Uh we are a specialty secondary processing occup or facility.

So we don't we don't handle automobiles or fluids or or this traditional type of first level scrap recycling that folks are most you know familiar with.

We handle byproducts from other operations and from other industries.

So for example, one of those is uh like shredder residue.

The um material that comes off of an auto shredder, and it's mixed with foam and wire and glass and dirt and everything you can imagine.

What we specialize on in this operation is the separation of those types of components, getting the the last of the we like to say this what what how many more squeals are in the peg?

How much more can we recover from these streams that are otherwise difficult to re recover materials from?

So we have developed quite a fascinating operation where we are um able to concentrate these valuable uh recyclable commodities from otherwise unusable streams that were going to landfills.

So that's what we do here.

We do it almost all indoors.

Um very little activity outside.

We're set way back from the road, so we're quite a distance from North Detroit Avenue.

Uh and you know, we've we've gone through we didn't we just never knew that these permits were in place.

We've had permits with the city since we got there.

I think we got overlooked.

I'm not sure what happened, but um, you know, we're happy to accommodate and take care of this.

We just had a few issues that we were concerned about with the with the sugg you know your recommendations.

I'm gonna let Sarah speak to those.

Um, but we you know, for the most part, even like the screening, we're we're in agreement that we would take the a fence line all the way down a solid, you know, visibility screen all the way down North Detroit.

Um but the one point I think that's sort of we're confused about or want to bring to your attention is at the very south end, we part of this structure, this property was at the old office complex for Dollar Jarvis, and that's actually by fence line also separated off, and that's one of the areas that we have some concerns with.

That actually is for lease right now as well.

So um with that, uh I'll let Sarah address the couple of concerns that we had with the recommendations.

Hello.

Um so I just want to note that condition 18 on this printed out version.

I don't see it change.

I'm sure it's actually changed in real life, but um I was working with Alex.

You're Alex, right?

Hi, what's up?

Um so that was changed to um read more similarly to the condition, let's see.

15, similar to that, um, to where we would just be submitting a revised site plan rather than being required to remove all the unused driveways.

Um so the reason that we wanted that change to offer more so we can have some back and forth about it, is because that area, like Dennis said, is completely isolated from our scrap operations.

It's fenced off, it's just a vacant office.

Um right now we have Jersey barriers blocking.

I think it's three of the drives or two of three of the four.

Three of the four drives, and then there's one drive that remains open.

Otherwise, it's just a lot with a vacant office.

Um the reason we leave one open is because the fire department actually requires access to that due to the what do they call them?

Post fire post indicator valves, and then there's a hydrant over there, so they need to have access to be able to pull in and pull water from those valves if they need to.

So one has to at least remain open.

But otherwise, we didn't want to start removing the other ones because we currently have that area up for rent for lease.

So we don't have any tenants lined up right now, but we're hoping that we could get someone in there.

Um, most likely unrelated to scrap, not necessarily connected to our operation, but we'd like that used because it hasn't been used for a long time.

So we were just bringing this up because we didn't want to remove and till up all the concrete and do all these things if we end up getting a tenant that needs this access, and then we'd have to add it again, which would just be a bit of a financial stress on us um to do all of that.

So um can I stop you just for one second?

Yes, I have I have two questions that I think are really important.

Yes.

Are you also the owners of the property?

Yes.

Yes, because the challenge with special use permits is they even though you only are operating your use at a small portion of it, it affects the entire property.

And so I wanted another make sure that you actually own the property as well because if not, you might be committing to things for someone else who's not here.

Yes, we represent the the landlord as well as resource reclamation to the scrap process.

Okay.

What what are your other concerns?

Um that was the main one was just that um we wanted to make sure that just due to the fact that that isn't part of our circulation and we don't have cars actively entering that, like employees or public.

Um we'd prefer to not have it lumped into the parking and circulation requirement where we're you know paving and striping at this point, just because we don't have a tenant lined up, we don't have that secured right now.

Um so this would be in the site plan since the condition was changed to be we provide a site plan and discuss these things, but just the idea would be to more like beautify it and make it more clear that like maybe with bollards or chain or with an actual gate rather than jersey barriers to show, do not enter.

This is not accessible, and then just to leave the one open for the fire for now.

And then obviously down the line, if we were to gain a tenant and have that, we would go through the proper channels, make sure everything is properly paved, striped, make sure all the access points are in code with Toledo's regulations.

So that was our really our main concern.

I don't think we have other crazy concerns about the other conditions.

That was the main one.

If I may, um please, please.

What she's talking about is condition 18.

Um we've had some discussions with the division of traffic management.

Um and they've agreed to new language for that condition.

Um and I can read that out for you if if you would like.

Please, please do.

The new language would be traffic management requests all unnecessary driveways along Detroit Avenue be removed and replaced with new curb and grass.

The applicant shall submit a revised site plan depicting parking and circulation in this area.

Driveways, drive aisles, and parking spaces must be clearly dimensioned.

Final determination on the necessity of driveways shall be by the division of traffic management and the plan director.

So it leaves it more up to a future site plan that they submit and then traffic management, the plan director, and and the applicant will sit down and say these these need to be removed and these can stay.

Okay.

And are you comfortable with that?

I don't know.

Um I think that it's hard because since we don't have a tenant right now, we're talking in we may have one, but I think that requiring the removal of all the driveways would just put financial strain on us down the line because it like right now the sign is up, like the temporary sign for like for rent, please come be a tenant here.

Um so we're hope that we're hoping that is the future plan, but since right now we don't know, we just didn't want to agree to this and do this all in a year time if we don't know for sure what is gonna happen with that part of the property.

And since it's so isolated and it is fenced off and not accessible from like via car to be able to drive through from our scrap and salvage site to it.

We just thought that it could remain separate for now, and we could definitely do some site improvements to make it clear that you're not supposed to drive on this area and it's not accessible to the public or employees, but we didn't want to have to rem like you know, bust up the concrete and grass seed if we're gonna end up having to put back in the drives, you know, in a year or two or three.

Yeah.

So what do you think?

Uh the division of traffic management and I are committed to sitting down and working with you.

We're not gonna require any drives to be removed until we all sit down and work this out together.

We're committed to doing that.

So um if you have my word, we're gonna sit down and work it out.

Thank you.

What's the need?

What's the need for the removal of drives?

How many drives are out there?

It's a typical policy of traffic manager to remove as many drives as you can for traffic safety issues.

But um in this case, it's they really they really have a good reason for us sitting down and working it out because they don't know what that tenant's gonna be.

Um it is typical of them to remove curb cuts.

And may I also add that there's like four of them in like quick succession, they're really close to each other, and I think that's uh traffic management's chief concern.

Understood.

Okay, but but if we approve this with that added language, that is a future decision, not something they have to do right now to get the special use permit.

Correct.

Because I don't want to lose out on correcting and oversight with something.

So as a note, this is a special use permit for an existing uh site.

I don't think there's any site improvements, so there's no building permit with it that anyone's gonna hold up to meet these conditions.

Anything that's held is gonna be held by me.

Okay, and I I understand the the condition, and and we're going to sit down and work that out, but there's no permit that traffic management would hold on this and say you have to take these curk butts out now.

Okay.

Commissioners, any additional questions for the applicant hearing none, I think we have one person in the audience who would like to speak on this case.

Do you want to come up?

I'm not sure I understand everything.

My name is Lydia Gilbert, and I'm at 4030 Schlei, which is Will you do me two favors?

Can you step up closer to the microphone?

Okay.

And will you please raise your right hand?

Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give today will be true and accurate?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Ma'am, what's your question?

Okay.

I understand what you're doing.

You want to go just on Detroit so far?

And then your fence comes over so far.

You want to finish the fence over to where the uh the fence company is, right?

Along the street, where the streets end up towards wooden.

Here, let's look at this because I'm not sure.

Can you put the uh the overview of the top view?

Maybe that'll I don't know if that helps you.

Okay.

Which slide?

So here's North Detroit.

Yeah.

And uh Pennsylvania's Sylvania.

Oh, you're waiting for the thing.

We're between the three we're all the way up by Alexis.

We're nowhere near Sylvia.

Oh, are you talking about the other scrap and sell there?

Yeah, so she's RM or something, yeah.

Man for the deferred.

So there was another scrap and salvage that's deferred for sixty days.

Oh, okay.

Yes, that's why I'm here and actually.

Okay, well, we're glad you just for the other one.

Okay.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

Oh, glad we could help you though.

All right.

Cleared up the computer.

Thank you.

I think I know the answer, but is there anyone else in the audience that would like to speak on this case?

All right.

Um Alex calls, emails, other correspondence in advance of today's hearing.

I have received none.

Okay.

And so I just want to be clear for the record that with that revised language for today.

You're okay with these conditions of approval.

I think so.

Yes.

Okay.

Yes.

And if there's things you're not sure about, or the things that come up in the future, you need to address Alex or Lisa and they'll help you work through those.

Sounds good.

Okay.

I mean, I guess the only other statement would be that this is a very old property.

So we're dealing with legacy items like uh I think that there's a uh there was a wastewater treatment plant there in the past that has been closed, and that was all coordinated with the city when they when those folks went out of business, and that was well before we ever took ownership of this property.

So, you know, as best as we can, we will help out and try to figure out what's what, and we've done some stormwater tracking ourselves as in relation to some of the um permit requirements uh already as part of our stormwater plan.

So we we probably have our own independent information also that will supplement what you guys are looking for.

And it's it's not a requirement, but you could also consider in the future splitting off that office building from the industrial site and creating two separate sites.

Well, and is that have to do more with the plat layout of this whole comp camp this whole campus that's I think that's partly why you are getting the whole thing because the way in which this this uh real estate was purchased and the structure of it it lumped it all together through through the planning commission, if it was ever a desire to do so in the future, you could apply to split those parcels and split the office building off from the industrial uses and have two separate parcels.

Okay, it's not a requirement, but you can do that.

And what would be the benefit to us just from a uh flexibility and permitting type of in theory you could sell the the office site independent of your industrial site?

There's uh there's lots of different um opportunities there, but it's just something to consider.

All right, I was thinking of speedway maybe.

So sorry, too soon.

All right.

All right, so at this time, commissioners, are there any final questions for the applicant?

I I'll accept the motion on this case, SUP 26-0006.

Brandon, is that as amended?

Yes, as as you've as amended with the amended condition that you stated on the record.

I'll make a motion for approval as amended.

We have a first and a second to approve the application.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

That carries unanimously.

You will be before city council as well on May 20th.

It will likely also be another long meeting.

So Brandon.

Thank you for the words.

There's a waiver.

All right, thank you all.

Thank you.

Good luck to you.

Hey, Brandon.

There's a waiver as well.

There's a waiver.

Yep.

What is the waiver on this one, Alex?

So the waiver is that setback of 100 feet from right-aways for scrap and salvage yards.

It's allowing the scrap and salvage.

Uh it's allowing uh the trucking portion of their operation to exist within a hundred feet.

And the reason being is um trucking operations that existed there for since before the use occupied the site, and um staff believes that adequate screening will mitigate any impacts.

Okay.

Um commissioners, does anyone want to make a motion to approve that waiver?

Oh the motion to approve.

All seconds.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right, that carries unanimously.

Uh, our vote will be amended to reflect that waiver.

Thank you.

And just um just so you know, we did that scrap and salvage study a few months ago.

Dev study got to council, and council added that set back in.

So you actually never saw that requirement.

Okay.

All right.

So case number 13 was deferred, so I believe we are at case number 14.

Is M1125 study to amend the landscape material standards outlined in PMC 11080400 to require the use of native plants.

Staff recommends approval for the following reason the proposed tax amendment is consistent with the Ford Toledo plan and the state of purpose of the zoning code.

Dana, can you please take us through this?

Yes, give me one moment.

Sorry, it's been a long day.

I'm hungry.

Um, so um thank you.

This is a case to amend the landscaping requirements in the Toledo Municipal Code, and this was um given to us by city council.

They passed a resolution to do a native plant study.

Um it was pretty broad just to identify the aesthetic um value and environmental value and benefits that uh native plants have.

Um just to go through things really quick, generally just in summary, um the oak openings region is a unique uh biome.

Um, and it's um sometimes talked about like similar to the Everglades as being such a unique um and important environment in our area.

Now, with that, uh it's it is especially important that we support native plants because without the plants it doesn't be it doesn't stay as that unique biome.

And so um that is very broadly summarized the need for native plants as well as um it they provide soil stabilization, um preventing landslides, sinkholes, things of that nature.

Um also uh prevents soil degradation.

There's a lot of nutrients in our soil that are beginning to be depleted, and actually native plants help to restore that soil health.

Um additionally, water quality, um the roots of native plants.

I'm sure we've all seen this.

This is taken directly from the Ford Toledo plan, and the roots go deeper into the soil through multiple soil layers and um provide uh filtration.

And to go through the actual amendments that are being proposed, um is so we are amending the section 1108-0400 uh material standards right now.

Actually, we do say that species that are um I believe local to the area or adapted to the area.

Um, but we've changed that to read plants must be nursery grown, and plant species must be adapted to the local climate and water availability.

That um language came from doing some research in other areas of the country, and with a changing climate, um addressing both climate and water availability, um, was able to um address some of the shifting um climate in the US and worldwide.

Um then also um we added a section about native plants and just specifically saying that they are strongly preferred.

Um, and we are going to have a we will not have a native plant species list.

I know that was really requested, however, um in doing the research for this, I found that there are a lot of existing lists out there from organizations that know a lot more about native plants than we do.

And um, I think it's just important to be better at communicating that existing information.

Um, and so we are going to be referencing it's uh called the plants database.

Actually, it's the USDA uh species database and um or a similar uh reference as opposed to an officially adopted plant list.

Um if you do install all native plants, you don't need to do the irrigation as long as it follows the irrigation standards that are outlined.

Um and then the uh last two things or yeah, last couple of things I'm actually really excited about.

So we do have an accepted tree species list.

It was adapted or adopted in 2015, and um I did present this study to the Urban Forestry Commission, the Toledo Urban Forestry Commission.

They're uh staffed by Urban Beautification, and they'll be verifying this list before the council hearing.

Um also we are um so we are adopting that street tree list to better guide which species are better along um parking lots and for the front of green belt because you have along those areas the pavement and utilities, and these species were selected because of those potential uh conflicts.

Um and then also encouraging um the diversification of species to prevent blight, so reducing any um or eliminating any like monocultures or um things that if they are um landscaping strips where it's all one single species because if one of those plants has a disease, they all do, and you can see throughout the city some areas where there's for example a shrub row of boxwoods, and they've been taken out by uh recent blight.

Um lastly, I um also have connected with the University of Toledo environmental service uh environmental sciences, um senior capstone class, and they're doing some um uh um deliverables and materials that we're going to be posting to our website, and it would be a guide, just a very general guide of how to take care of native plants.

They are different from uh your I don't want to say designer or uh custom hybrid uh type of species, and um so looking forward to um working with them on that, finalizing that, as well as a um sort of a decision tree to help with um because we our soil, it's both we have some areas that are very sandy, and then also very dense clay, and a tree that may work in one part of town might not work in another part of town.

Um, and so they're um making a little decision tree to help people make those decisions and thought that would be very useful for our um applicants.

And with that, I ran through that as fast as I could.

Um if there's any questions, happy to answer any.

Questions for Danny.

This one.

Um so I I love the idea of a decision tree.

Will we be sort of linking or referencing a uh soil map or reference where an applicant could actually find out what sort of part of the ecoregion they're in, or that is a really good idea?

I did find some a really great resource that um gets very detailed with all the different soil materials, yeah, and short of and short of soil testing are actually, you know, right.

It would be a hard thing for someone to arrive at the lay person to arrive at.

Yeah, yeah.

Um I actually uh uh did find I forget the source.

Um that would be an excellent resource for for resident for applicants, yeah.

Yeah.

Does the Lucas County Auditor's Office maintain soil maps and soil quality?

I know when I know for parcels that get the CAUV treatment for agricultural use, the the county actually goes out and and values and evaluates the soil.

So I'm wondering if they have resources that we could tap into.

I don't know.

That's a really good suggestion.

They may only do it for agricultural parcels and not the rest of the city, but it's worth asking.

Yeah, thank you.

Any additional questions?

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak on this case?

Okay.

Um at this time I'll accept a motion on this case to approve the amendment in case M11-25.

How many will make a motion for approval?

I will second that we have a first and a second to approve the amendment.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

All right.

That carries unanimously, and that'll go to council.

We do have a director's report.

We have a couple items of business we need to address.

Lisa, is there anything specific you needed to address first off?

So there's kind of good news and bad news.

Uh when it comes to certain uh two-two votes, tie votes.

Um and then it appears after discussing with the law department, we will need to bring back a case that recently had a two-two vote and revote on that case, and I'll let you know.

Currently, currently our procedure is has been in the past that we would reset it for for rehearing if it's a tie vote.

And since we have not yet amended our procedures, we're gonna have to bring that case back.

And that is the sheets case from last month.

So SUP 250036, the sheets from Monroe.

Um and that's pursuant to Toledo Municipal Code 14501.

So what'll happen is uh it'll come back from council, it'll get re-noticed, set on a new agenda, and we will reconvene, take any additional um testimony that may be present, and we will revote to see if we can break that tie, and if not, um to be determined.

So the code requires that um to move to to move the case along, it requires a majority vote of those present.

So if you have a two-two tie, the case can't go anywhere.

It needs to either be reset for hearing or needs to be voted on to be pro moved ahead without a recommendation from the plan commission.

So just to be procedurally safe, we are going to recall the case from zoning and planning.

And you can either vote the same way you did before or um as you choose to, but then if you still are tied, you will vote to move the case along without a recommendation of either approval, disapproval.

It was moved without any sort of um there wasn't a sort of action by the plan commission because it ended in a two-two tie.

So there was actually not no action was taken on the case.

So first we need so to move it along, we need to move it along without a approval or a recommendation on that case.

And so Lisa's working with the law department to kind of revise our procedures so we have more definitive answers on when that event occurs.

But for the moment, uh it has to come back to us as cases have in the past.

So uh I don't know when we'll hear that case again, but it will be on one of our future agendas.

Anything else, Lisa?

Uh unless you want a quick update on the zoning code rewrite, we've narrowed it down to four, and interviews are gonna be set within the next two weeks.

Within about three weeks, we'll have a selection.

So that's it.

And that's for our consultant that'll help us draft those rewrites.

Yep, and that's it.

Thank you.

Everyone, thanks for your hard work today.

We're adjourned.