I'm sorry, I was not paying attention because I was kind of making eyes and Jamani because I wanted to make sure I saw Jamani.

I totally did.

I'm so sorry.

I appreciate it.

Hey, I know Council uh president.

Especially it's been just really she speaks very, very highly on the air and just feels really heard and listened to.

So I appreciate it.

Thank you.

That's important.

I mean, we agree.

We've had great conversations with Tomani, Rick, Brian.

Like we want a partnership.

We all want to do what's best with the residents.

It's easier on you guys when we don't have complaints, it's easier on that.

Right, right.

So I appreciate it.

Thank you for all of your help.

Yes, sir.

That I thought we would talk about.

I mean, it was so funny when awful.

So I think it was somebody at our customer service.

Okay.

Oh, okay.

We had a ball.

I was like, but I'll call it a I'll call her off.

Like, no, it was somebody somewhere else.

Oh, I wouldn't wait.

Yeah.

Exactly.

So it's pretty good.

Okay.

Oh, yeah.

So I think I can I quit to write it out.

We can take the door.

No, no, no.

I mean no, no way.

No, I know what you can still feel.

Right.

Oh, no.

I don't think you're going to do that.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

But it's not a lot of fun.

Okay.

So, this is the line in front of the house.

I think I wouldn't say that.

I think I got a lot of time.

I'm not sure what we're actually going to do.

Um, I think it's like, you know, but it's uh, you guys, it's very well.

And I can tell you what I'm saying.

I call to order the zoning and planning committee uh meeting of April fifth.

No, I'm sorry.

That's not April fifteenth, it's May twentieth, twenty twenty six.

So please call the role.

Morris here.

Martinez, Driscoll.

Here.

Gaddis?

Here.

Hobbs.

Come Ives.

Meldon.

Here.

Surround two?

Here.

Williams?

Here.

Eight presents.

Thank you very much.

Uh I'm glad it's not April 15th.

I want to forget that day.

Uh okay, let's move on to Director Cotrell.

Okay, so I just want to give a quick announcement to everyone in the audience, especially if you're an applicant.

If you get an email from the plan commission or planning and zoning committee that says you need to wire us additional fees, that is a fraudulent email.

Uh we've had some people who have done so, and unfortunately they're they're out of the money.

So if you're here at this level, you've already paid your fees or they've been waived, whatever.

Do not click on that email.

So just some advice that if you get anything from the city on any type of a zoning or building matter like that, you should not call our office first.

That is a very important public service announcement.

Um let's uh go ahead and begin the agenda.

Clerk, can you please read case number one and applicant?

Can you please come forward to the microphone?

Case number one is the request for an amendment to a special use permit for a gas station expansion for the property located at forty-four eighty-six Monroe Street.

Case number SUP twenty-five-four eight, the plan commission recommends approval subject to nineteen conditions and two waivers.

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

If so, say I do.

And one of the issues, one of the nineteen issues was that you want us to take down the uh the uh poll sign.

And that would really disrupt the uh operation of the business because nobody would be able to see us.

So we are disagreeing with that one condition.

So I think the applicants requesting relief from condition 14, which requires the sign code currently requires any plan commission review.

All signage has to be brought into compliance.

I think they're asking for relief of that condition.

Just uh that was requested as the plan commission, the plan commission recommended disapproval.

Just the poll sign, that's the only one.

Yeah, the the landscaping is fine, that's no problem.

So just just for clarification, um the the plan commission recommended approval of all of the other uh uh conditions except um item number 14.

Correct.

Okay, and um do you agree to the 19 conditions and the two waivers that are on uh currently been proposed?

Yes, okay.

So since the so they recommended disapproval of the sign, so um there isn't anything.

I mean, so as long as you agree to the 19 and the two waivers.

Well, I uh the plan commission did not recommend approval of of relief on the sign, so that would be uh your decision.

Okay.

Okay.

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number one?

Again, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number one?

Councilmember Martinez, uh thank you, Madam Chair.

Just a quick question on this.

Was this a vacant um this had been tell me about your property?

Let me let me let me start there.

You have to speak into the microphone, please.

And it's already existing gas stations.

We just tried to expand the cooler on the back alley.

And they requesting to take the sign down, make it the ground sign.

The reason we cannot take it because it's a mail route.

We need to put a ground sign and we have a lot of experienced people, they damage it a lot.

Well, see guys have been approving all the new gas station with like a high sign.

There's no reason we can be only stationed.

So you were already operating in existence, same ownership, same everything.

Already existing, we already opened.

Gotcha.

So we adopted a new sign code last year that requires monument signs now versus the poll sign, and as you go through this process, that's one of the things that normally gets eliminated.

Um it's an aesthetic issue more so than anything.

Um, I was just kind of curious.

I was just trying to understand.

I didn't know if you were just renovating a brand new store or what you were doing.

So you're just adding to the rear of your building.

And you're not changing the sign in any way, shape, or form.

Okay.

Thanks.

That's my question.

Thank you.

Um council member Meldon, do you have a recommendation?

Well, um, I feel somewhat confused by where we are.

So it strikes me, and director, tell me if I'm interpreting this correctly, that you are suggesting approval.

However, the applicant is asking for uh an adjustment based on the approval you want to give.

They're saying we don't want that approval because that includes taking the sign down.

Right.

So we're recommending approval subject to 19 conditions.

One of those conditions is that the signs need to be brought into compliance for the sign code.

So if I take it forward as approved, that's not what you want.

No, that's not what we want.

No, it's yeah, um, so what would be the process here?

So I think you could you could say we want to remove condition 14.

Oh, this is so exciting for me.

Okay, good.

Um so here's my problem.

I've I've I'm I've been given so many different ways to talk about this thing that I don't like.

It has nothing to do with you, so I'm very sorry about this.

The notion that this is our system is one of the most wild things to me.

It's just wild.

And I don't like it.

I don't like being the situation of a magic wand.

That here we go, we go through the rigor of passing a new sign code, and then the plan commission goes through the rigorous process of approving a site plan, and when there's an argument or a disagreement, it's not solved there with the business owners, the applicants, and the experts.

It's handed, it's punted to me as the district member to say, sure, I'll waive the sign code.

Like, I don't want to do that.

I'm not interested in doing that.

I think that's a terrible precedent to set, and are just a really kind of strange, bad system.

It's just bad.

So I will not do that, and it has unfortunately nothing to do with your particular case.

We understand that the reason we are here because it's already existing.

We not rebuild the whole gas station of a rebuild construction.

We understand the rule, the code change every year.

Every 10 years.

No, I understand that.

And I also understand from the perspective of the plan commission, they're saying if we just exempt every single sign, we're never, we might as well have not created a new sign code.

And so it's a it's a tough, it's a tough position.

I will recommend it go forward as approved because that is the recommendation of the plan commission, and um, you know, in a strange way, thankful that I got to talk about this very peculiar dynamic that we often find ourselves in.

So I recommend it to go forward to council as approved.

All right, seeing no objections, so ordered.

Um, and this uh this will be uh here, this will be heard on June.

When will it be heard?

Oh, uh when is our next council meeting?

June 17th.

This will be heard on June 17th, and we do have some uh signatures that need to be um signed over here.

So if you will talk with one of our clerks, I'm sorry, it's not June 17th, June 9th.

Sorry.

June 9th, that's when it will be heard to the full city council.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Sorry about the confusion.

Thank you.

Um Clerk, uh, can you make an announcement, please?

Um yes, before we continue, I'd like to announce the following cases will be deferred until the next zoning and planning committee on June 17, 2026.

Um they are cases number three, the um special use permit for a school at 3300 Glendale Avenue.

Case number eight, special use permit for gasoline and fuel sales at 1322 Burnath.

Number nine, um request for removal of Lap 1 of the Tiburon Platte 1 at 1322 Burnath.

The request for a zone change at uh 1322 Burnath, that's case number 10.

And case number 11, the request for a study to amend landscaping requirements.

All these cases will be deferred until next month, June 17, 2026.

Thank you very much.

And uh I do need a motion for you, um, uh council member Meldon, and uh to send it to the full city council.

Yeah, I need a motion.

Sorry I put my light on.

You're literally calling on me.

Why would I do that?

Um, you mean to read it off this little sheet of paper here?

Yes, yeah, like this.

Thank you.

Uh I would like to send this forward to the full council as approved.

All right, seeing no objections, so ordered.

I'm gonna go back and watch the tape.

I think I I think I said that.

Clerk, is there an issue?

Sorry, I can't hear you.

Is there an issue?

I want to make sure that we're doing this properly.

So I need a motion.

We need a motion.

Okay.

Okay, okay, okay.

Sorry about this.

This is the making of the sausage.

Uh council member Martinez.

I motion to defer.

See, item number three.

Item number three.

Okay.

Item number, well, go ahead.

Seeing no objections.

So oh, hold on a second.

Hold on.

Councilmember House.

Yes.

Thank you, Chair.

So I have a question.

Number three has been deferred until June 17, 2026.

And it's down as district two.

But that's District 1.

It's district one.

I've been working on this forever.

That's district one.

So it should be on the it should be on here today.

Do we know why this was deferred?

I guess is the question.

Okay.

Who deferred, please?

The applicant called our office yesterday and said due to a family emergency she requested deferral.

I sent out an email to yourself.

Okay and Councilman Martinez.

Okay.

To make sure that that was okay.

Okay.

So it was the applicant asked for it to be deferred.

Okay.

And I guess because they thought it was District 2, it went to Councilman Martinez.

Got this information.

I didn't know.

Okay.

I'm looking for it today, and I'm like, that's what I okay.

Okay.

Thank you, Councilman Martinez.

Thank you, Chair.

I didn't have this information until just now.

Okay.

There is a motion.

But it is district one.

Um council Councilman Hobbes.

Would you like to make a motion to defer this then?

Um so my question is so I have clarity.

Do I have to defer it, Mr.

Trill, or can it be on today?

Or do I have to defer it?

I I that is up to you, but I I could tell you at the Plan Commission hearing there was no opposition, and the applicant did not object to any conditions.

So, well then I want to go forward with it today.

Please, I don't want to defer it to the 17th.

Since the plan commission approved it, there was no objections.

There was no objections from the applicant then.

Let's move forward with it today.

If we can, please, Chair.

Yes.

Okay.

Um Councilman Martinez.

Okay.

Okay.

Um, we're gonna go out of order.

So we're gonna go to um case number three, and clerk, can you please read case number three?

Case number three is a request for a special use permit for a school for the property located at 3300 Glendale Avenue case number SGP 26-0010.

The plan commission recommends approval subject to 13 conditions.

Thank you.

And Miss Cottrell, is there anything to add?

Um, no, like I said, there was no objections, there were no uh objections to any of the conditions of approval at the plan commission level.

Okay, thank you.

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number three?

Again, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number three?

Councilman Hobbes.

What is your recommendation?

I forgot about the I'm sorry, I'm having a brain fart, excuse me.

I recommend approval.

I got confused between SCP.

I want to send it to the full city council as approved.

Thank you.

Forgive me.

Seeing no objections, so ordered.

Okay, um, let's go back.

Sorry, um, to the deferrals, because we need a motion on the deferrals.

Um, so um can you uh maybe read the case title and then I'll make the motion to defer it.

Okay, case number eight's a request for a special use permit for gasoline and fuel sales for the property located at 1322 Bernath Parkway.

Case number SGP 25-0049.

The plan the Plan Commission staff recommends approval subject to 46 conditions and two waivers.

The plan commission recommends disapproval.

I make a motion that this uh is deferred until the next zoning and planning committee of June 17th, 2026.

Seeing no objections, so ordered.

Clerk, can you please read case number nine?

Case number nine is the request for removal of lot one of the Tiburon Plat 1 from the community unit planally approved by ordinance 373-76 and is amended for the property located at 1322 Burnath Parkway.

Case number PUD26-005.

The plan commission recommends approval.

I make a motion that this is deferred into our next zoning and planning committee until June 17th, 2026.

Seeing no objections, so ordered.

Clerk, can you please read case number 10?

Case number 10 is a request for a zone change from RM12 multi-dwelling residential to CN neighborhood commercial for the property located at 1322 Burnath Parkway.

Case number Z25-0038.

The plan commission recommends approval.

I recommend that this case be deferred into our next zoning and planning committee of June 17th, 2026.

Seeing no objections, so ordered.

Excuse me, hold on, please.

Council member Martinez.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just uh for quick clarification.

I did speak with the applicant with the plan commission giving kind of a mixed signal in terms of approvals.

Um they are deferring to figure out their next steps.

So the SUP for the gasoline sales was denied, but the 24-hour operation was approved, as well as the uh zone change to allow a gas station to go there.

That was approved.

So it was a really weird kind of situation.

So the applicant is reconsidering their options.

Uh so they asked to have it deferred till the 17th, and I had no problem with that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Case number 11 is a request for a study to amend the landscaping requirements outlined in Toledo Municipal Code Part 11 to require the use of native plants.

I recommend this code.

I'm sorry, I recommend this be deferred until June 17th, 2026 to our next zoning planning committee.

Thank you.

Is there a reason why this was being deferred?

Uh so we we lost the planner who wrote this.

Uh I wanted to go back and look at a few things and just be sure we were on the right path.

And then she had moved on in that time period.

She's asking for a month to um go back and make sure we have all of our ducks in a row.

Okay, I can appreciate that.

Thank you.

Okay.

Seeing no objections, so ordered.

Okay, let's move back to our uh normally scheduled program of uh case number two.

Uh can the applicant for case number two please come forward?

And clerk, can you please read case number two?

Case number two is the request for a zone change from CR regional commercial to RD6 duplex residential for the property located at 4927 North Summit Street.

Case number Z25-0028.

The plan commission recommends approval.

Can you state your name and address for the record, please?

Calvin Mulligan, uh 313 Riverside Drive, Commercial Point, Ohio.

For that for the address here, it's fine.

Okay, we're good.

Would you raise your right hand, please?

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Why are you requesting this zone change?

Trying to get it changed.

When we purchased the property, we didn't know it was a commercial property, and we try to get it switched to residential.

Okay, thank you.

Um, Miss Catrell, do you have anything to add?

Uh, I don't.

Okay.

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number two?

Again, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number two?

All right.

As the district member, um, I will recommend that this go to the full city council as approved.

It will be held on June 9th.

Uh, and um you do not need to be there.

You do not need any other paperwork, so um, thank you very much.

Okay, you have a good day.

You too, thank you.

Clerk, let's move on to uh case number four.

And would the applicant for case number four please come forward now?

Case number four is a request for a special use permit for a scrap and salvage facility for the property located at 5400 North Detroit Avenue.

Case number SUP 26-0006.

The Plan Commission recommends approval subject to 27 conditions and one waiver.

Can you state your name and address for the record, please?

Sarah Hinchcliffe, 5400 North Detroit Avenue, Toledo, Ohio.

Okay.

And your colleague there?

Oh, yeah, I forgot.

Sorry.

I'm just the boss.

Donna Stropco, 5400 North Detroit Avenue to Lee.

Thank you.

Okay.

Is your right hand, please?

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

If so say I do, I do.

I do.

Thank you.

Do you want to tell us about your request, please?

Do you want me to short?

Yes, we're here for our second um hearing in front of you guys now.

Um, we have operated at this location for many, many years now.

Um, I don't know if we had slipped through the cracks or something, but we're trying to get our special use permit and get up to compliance with these regulations.

So we really don't have much to say at this point after the first meeting.

I think there was one condition number 18 that may be different.

I don't know if it's been updated since then, but it was changed.

Um I've been working with Alex Schultz from Planning Commission.

It was one of the traffic.

Where the heck is it?

Okay, condition 18 now was changed to read more um open-ended, um, rather than just saying removing and replacing the curves in the grass.

I just didn't know if that one had been updated on your guys' forms yet because mine is still old.

Okay, okay.

That's the only thing that I wanted to know, um, but otherwise, yeah.

We're just um trying to get up up to compliance with this so that we can get our special use permit.

Okay, thank you.

We've already begun getting some quotes and moving forward with the with the different requirements too.

Okay, uh, do you so you do agree to the 27 conditions and the one waiver then?

Yes.

Okay.

Ms.

Catrell, do you have anything to add?

Um, I would only add that we did work out with transportation condition number eighteen.

So you'll see that reflected in your final documentation regarding the curb cuts and the waiver is being requested, but we did add a condition that only the truck operations could happen in that that setback area.

So you're waving the setback, but you're still keeping the scrap and salvage away.

Setback a hundred feet, just the truck operations, and that that condition was agreed upon.

So um there was no opposition at the hearing of the planning commission level.

Okay, um what is the actual name of the company?

Resource reclamation Toledo.

Is this and this is tell me exactly where this is located?

It's at 5400 North Detroit, but what's the crossroads?

Um do we have a street across from us?

I there's I can't think of the name of that street.

Where's my map?

We're we're between Omni and Cherry Pickers, if that helps.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.

Kind of by that racetrack.

Yes.

Okay.

All right.

Um, maybe that was um the residential street, yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

The only thing I I ever ask of these scrapyards, because I have a number of them in that area, is that um please be good neighbors?

Um, there are residents in that area.

Um, so uh, you know, they're gonna be the first ones that make complaints.

Um, so really try to be good residents um or neighbors, I should say.

Uh anyway.

Okay, um council member Martinez.

Uh thank you, madam chair.

Just a quick question for director uh control.

So these what is the setback from the I'm looking at this the grassy area?

And then there looks like to be some sort of medallion or something in the middle.

What exactly is that?

So the required setback is 100 feet, but this is an existing site.

So what is the actual setback then?

Is it still 100 feet?

It's it's not gonna, I would have to measure it.

Um I know it's not gonna be close to that, maybe 20 feet.

Um the looks like there's tree shrub area, and then there's grass area.

So from the most northern point to where that little concave gray spaces, right?

That's all green space and setback?

Correct.

And then they have rail to the left.

That's correct.

And then the main intersection to the okay, and then so I'm not as familiar with this area.

Then what type of recycling are you doing or salvage?

We're we are more of a secondary processor, so we're not doing the primary auto salvaging or things like that.

We're taking uh products that are generated in those uh recycling operations and further recovering more recoverables from them.

So we will take like the shredder residue that auto shredder generates, and we will recover other non ferrous metals and other precious metals and residual steel and iron from that you know, stream that they can't do much with.

So we're a very specialized process, and we're almost exclusively indoor, almost all the processing occurs indoors.

So, uh you have to forgive me because I don't know exactly what you do.

So, what I'm understanding is you take the secondary sludge, if you will, that they can't extrapolate anything.

I'm just using a very unpression.

Oh, my apologies.

Oh, my apologies then.

The access residue then, um, and then you further refine it.

And right, we we recover additional, we're able, we have technologies and equipment to be able to further separate these complex mixtures of material and remove fuzz from plastic from wire, from glass, from aluminum.

Sir, can you talk into the microphone?

They're having trouble.

Sorry.

I get excited about it.

I know.

No, it sounds really interesting.

I mean, I'm just kind of curious.

Okay, does that is that helping?

Yeah, so so then I guess my other question.

So, mostly it's all done indoors.

And then you have I'm assuming some sort of filtration system, so any noxious fumes or anything like that.

Do you recapture that to make sure nothing's escaping into the areas?

I'm sure you're CPA oversight, I would imagine.

We we hold a stormwater permit with Ohio EPA.

We have a city or a city through issued through the city of Toledo air permitting.

Um we have uh air filtration systems that we utilize.

We are primarily utilizing processing only dry material, we don't handle anything wet, no liquids.

No liquids, yeah.

So it's all these are all solid residual materials.

And then any toxic chemicals or anything like that, and we we do routine monitoring of of our materials and of the atmosphere as well.

Okay, great.

Thank you for that very enlightening.

Thank you.

Sure.

Thank you.

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number four?

Again, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for against case number four?

All right, as the district um council member, I will recommend that this go to the full city council as approved, and that will be on June 9th.

Um, you don't have any paperwork to fill out, so thank you so much for coming in, and um, I'm sure we'll be in touch.

Okay.

Sounds good.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Sorry, you do have paperwork.

I lied.

I'm sorry, you have paperwork.

Sorry.

It's okay.

Uh let's move on to case number five.

And can the applicant for case number five please come forward?

Case number five is a request for a special use permit for community recreation active for the property located at 617 City Park Avenue.

Case number SGP 26-0014.

The plan commission recommends approval subject to 25 conditions.

Joe Fosna, 2201 Ottawa Drive.

You don't have to be sworn in because you're like that.

Alright, tell us about the application, please.

Uh we're requesting permission to do a revitalization project at Savage Park.

Um the project will include um removal of the um closed pool structure, removal of the current splash pad, and demolition of the current parking lot.

Um once we have a clean slate, we plan to put back a brand new splash pad, a new parking lot, as well as uh new pathways to connect all those amenities.

Um subsequent phases of the project include a new open air shelter that's sized appropriately to host community scale events, and then also a new playground at that part.

Thank you.

Uh Ms.

Catrell, do you have anything to add?

I do not.

Okay.

Um is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number five?

Again, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for against case number five?

Council uh president uh William President Council President Williams.

What is your recommendation?

Um I recommend that this should have been done decades ago.

But I said it to the with every pleasure.

I recommend it to the city for city council as approved.

30 times.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, Joe.

Joe found a whole bunch of money for that project.

Appreciate you, Joe.

Seeing no objections, so ordered.

All right, thanks, Joe.

Um, let's move on to case number six.

And would the applicant for case number six?

Please come forward.

Case number six, a request for a special use permit for major public utility water towers for the property located at 1910 North Over Road.

Case number SUP 26-0002.

The plan commission recommends approval subject to 30 conditions.

Yeah, this is uh special use permit to construct two large elevated tanks are a part of an overall distribution system improvements project.

We've been before the zoning planning committee.

Uh twice now.

We had uh an additional public hearing related to that.

We agreed to all 30 uh terms from the 30 conditions from the um plan commission.

Thank you.

Uh Ms.

Catrell, do you have anything to add?

So this case, as Mr.

McClure said, was heard twice by the plan commission.

It was deferred once to allow them the time to hold a public hearing.

They did so, they had the second hearing and it was sent as approved.

Thank you.

Councilmember Martinez.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um, so this kind of piggybacks on chairmanship of uh water quality.

So this council approved uh legislation to allow this process to happen over a year and a half ago, maybe, and then last year we approved the funding uh for not only this project but also the uh Snyder Park project.

I think it was a hundred million dollars.

If I'm not mistaken, it came in at 80 or a little under budget.

Um, and this is a requirement by the uh OEPA.

And this should actually help improve uh water pressure throughout our entire distribution system.

So I just wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of that.

Thank you.

I'm glad you said that because I probably wouldn't have.

Um it is no um it's it's no secret that I'm against this project in it, not necessarily for having water towers and good pressure, but for the location because it is located in a neighborhood, and I don't think that this was done the right way.

Um so I'm I'm just not a fan, and neither are my constituents, and um, and it's okay.

You don't you can agree to disagree, um, but um it was it was approved.

Um, and the the plan commission uh recommended approval.

You've agreed to the conditions, so I will send this uh to the full city council without recommendation.

Um it is my choice to be able to do that as the as the district person and seeing no objections, so ordered.

So it'll be heard uh at the at the June 9th committee.

Thank you.

Do you have paperwork?

Yes, you do have paperwork.

So please go ahead and fill that out, Andy.

Thank you for your time.

And let's move on to case number seven.

Hold on.

Uh yes, you can come forward.

Sorry.

Please pull the microphone down, please.

State your name and address for the record.

Laura Crawford, 54 55 South Claston Barry.

Okay.

Do you want to sworn in?

Do you swear the testimony you're about to give will be the truth and nothing but the truth?

So I say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

Go ahead, ma'am.

I'm sorry.

All right, it's okay.

Hello, City Council members.

I have been to two previous hearings on this matter and a meeting at Silver Creek School about the water tower project.

I have presented to you a list of concerns, not just mine, but other residents about the placement of these towers in a residential neighborhood, including it being an eyesore, contamination risk, vandalism risk, property value decrease, noise, disruption of wildlife, and basically a nuisance to the residents.

Although I agree that the water pressure problem needs to be addressed, the gentleman in charge has told you that there's another site that they checked out and that it was acceptable.

And even though he said that it would be a parking and traffic issues during construction, they would be temporary.

Whereas if you put these towers in a neighborhood, those inconveniences are going to be permanent.

And at least this way they got the boardwalk.

A boardwalk where we get to look at 235 foot water towers.

But what he didn't say was that they would have taken it through eminent domain anyway.

And then at the last public hearing, um, this gentleman was clearly clearly told the developer that it still had to go through to this meeting before final approval, and yet a few days after that second meeting, they were out there digging and setting up barricades and polluting in rock and building roadways and clearly starting construction before they got final approval.

So were they fined for this for breaking the municipal code for not starting count not starting construction before final um approval?

I called Dana Rising before I I'm guessing she doesn't work here anymore, but I told her about it.

She told me they were not allowed to do that.

She investigated and she called me back that same day to say they were told to stop, but yet the next day they were out there again.

I called her again, she made another call, and they did finally stop.

They were also out there yesterday.

My point is this.

Why did they think they could do anything before final approval?

Did they already know it's going to be approved?

And how do they know that?

Is all this just for show?

Does the issue do the concerns of the people not mean anything?

I have names on a petition saying that they don't want this these water towers in our neighborhood.

There is another site that they could use that would solve the problem.

I have pictures of signs that people put up that they don't want it for fear of a data center going in because of this.

They don't want it.

Washington local schools didn't want it.

So I'm asking the council members is to listen to what the public feels about this.

We don't want it there.

We want the water pressure fixed, but there is another site they can use.

This is in a residential area.

It's just gonna cause a lot of problems, and then what are you gonna do?

You're gonna take them down.

Anyway, what will it take to have you vote against building there and putting it somewhere else?

I've been told misleading information at that meeting at the Silver Creek School.

I've been told half truth and outright lies by city employees that were there.

I am respectfully asking that you have them put it in another location.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm assuming that you were talking about the uh Bowman area, is that what you were talking about?

Yes, okay, thank you.

Uh Ms.

Catrell, do you know if there were any fines that were assessed for um operating before uh the special use permit?

I'd have to go back and look.

I know a zoning complaint was filed.

We file every complaint we get, so it's on record uh, but activity had stopped pretty quickly uh after we informed them.

So um, you know, you're allowed to do some site work, you're allowed to take trees down landscaping, grade, whatever, but um they had stopped, and so probably fines were not levied because they stopped right away.

Thank you.

Yeah, if I may, I was in touch with Dana or Dana was in touch with me.

We were in touch with each other, um, just to find exactly what was allowed at that point and what wasn't.

And we we told them to stop, especially if some of the plants that the contractor did have that they're right to execute now, but we we did have them stop on some work.

And so this cannot move uh the the construction and what have you cannot move forward until um the vote on June 9th.

Is that under if it's if it's approved, correct?

Correct.

Other than site grading or moving dirt around moving, taking trees down that you could do on your property anyway.

Okay.

Um to the resident.

I just I just wanted to make that clarification.

So if there are things that are going on that are beyond that scope, I would hope that you would call me uh and um certainly uh call the plan commission because um the information has been hard to get uh from different sources.

So I I feel your pain and uh and I wasn't telling tall tales about the constituents not being in support of this.

Um at any rate, um, this is already uh we've already made the motion.

Um thank you for um you know coming forward and uh let's move on to uh case number seven.

Case number seven is a request for a special use permit for standalone solar field for the property located at 627 Lotus Avenue.

Case number SUP 26-0003.

The plan commission recommends approval subject to 25 conditions in one waiver.

Thank you.

Um can you state your name and address for the record, please?

Carl Wagner, 14731 Prairie Lake Drive.

Do you swear to tell truth and nothing but the truth?

So say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

Can you tell us about this uh request for the special use permit?

Yes, thanks for the opportunity.

Uh my name's Carl Wagner.

I'm the board chair with Historic South Initiative.

With your permission, I'm gonna give you two or three minutes of background.

Uh I've been the board chair for five years.

I'm really proud of what we've accomplished together in the old South End.

Uh, my work with Historic South is driven by one simple hope that we can help today's residents prosper and ensure this neighborhood thrives for generations.

In the last 10 years, we've invested about 20 million dollars into the old South End in housing, education, commercial, and community development, benefiting hundreds of homeowners, school children, and many local organizations.

We're here today because the next major step in strengthening this neighborhood is before us.

I respectfully request your support for the special use permit for the standalone solar field at 627 Lotus Avenue.

As you know, the plant commission unanimously approved this project, subject to 25 conditions, all of which we're prepared to meet.

For background for the project, uh HSI was awarded a 1.5 million dollar HUD grant to build an operate a silver array.

Uh the site uh that we're looking at today is approximately 15 acres of vacant city-owned land.

It has limited development potential, but it has enormous potential to benefit the community.

The electricity generator will be sold to local organizations instead of profits going to private investors, all of the revenue flow into a neighborhood fund dedicated to revitalizing the old South End.

We estimate this project could generate almost a hundred thousand dollars every year, more than two million dollars over its lifetime for home repairs, youth programs, and community improvements.

In the initial year, we will prior prioritize the funding of applications of homeowners who live along the Solar Ray on Lotus Avenue.

The site was selected because it meets every requirement established.

It's vacant city owned land, only available for industrial use.

It's adjacent to rail and river infrastructure, limiting other development options.

It's close to potential electricity buyers, enhancing the opportunity for revenue.

The solar array will only use one-third of the land.

The remaining two-thirds will stay open.

It will have no impact on the river, and there is currently no safe public access to this land.

So it does not displace families, fishermen, or recreation.

With support from the Toyota Zoo, Metro Parks Toledo, and the Greater Tuito Community Foundation, we will enhance wildlife habitat and pollinator plantings and ensure the site is an environmental asset.

This project represents one of the most significant economic development opportunities the old South End has seen in decades.

We explained this in detail at a recent community meeting.

We threw a very nice crowd at the South Toledo Library.

In that meeting, we were able to provide facts to the residents and stakeholders in the room.

In summary, this project will return millions of dollars to Old South End residents and organizations.

It has widespread support.

The site uniquely fits all of the established criterion.

It brings respected partners to the table, and it transforms unused land into a long-term community benefit.

On behalf of Historic South Initiative and the residents we serve, I respectfully ask for your support of this special use permit.

Thanks for your time.

Thank you.

And do you agree to the 25 conditions in one waiver?

Okay, thank you.

Ms.

Cattrell, do you have anything to add?

Um other than you know, obviously the hearing had a great deal of opposition.

Some people in support, some people in opposition.

Um Plan Commission was supportive of the voted 5-0, but you do have people on both sides who probably want to speak.

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Councilwoman Gaddis.

Thank you.

Could you um tell me how many calls the plan commission had received?

I'm gonna defer to my the case planner, Lisa Carcher here.

We probably only received three or four calls.

The majority of the information were emails, and that's what would have been forwarded to you in your packets.

So the most of our correspondence was via email.

Okay, thank you.

And then um, Mr.

Wagner, could you explain a little bit about the meetings that you hosted or that you attended?

The meetings that you that meetings that you hosted or attended.

When Joe speak to that, he ran the meeting.

Can you state your name and address for the record?

And then we're gonna have to swear you in as well.

No problem.

Joe Cordella, uh, work for Historic South Initiative.

My address is one three six eight six Echo Junction Road.

You swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

Of so say I do.

I do.

So, Councilmember Gaddis, um, at when we appeared in front of the planning commission first, they recommended we hold a public meeting.

So I worked directly with Lisa Carcher.

We did direct mailings, social media reach outs, um, Facebook posts, um, canvassing, and then we hosted a public meeting.

Glad to say we had some council representatives there, some aides were there as well.

Um, we also had representatives from Lucas County, uh, Nita Lopez and her representative were there also, um, and uh more than a handful of uh local residents.

There's a great opportunity for us to talk about the progress of the project, but also to hear back from residents as well.

So, one specific example of where we heard community feedback was uh one of the stipulations we agreed to was to fence the property, but one of the suggestions residents had was would we consider security cameras or some other security devices as well?

We had not thought of that, but we said certainly we would look into that as well.

Um so we think that actually would make the property even safer than it is now.

Um, also we had thought a little bit about the possibility of working with the zoos before, but we've now taken the next step to actually have a conservation biologist look at it, come and look at the site, and even offer to give us some quotes and proposals that we're looking at over the next couple weeks.

Yeah, I want to thank you because a lot of the concerns that that um I heard um Mr.

Wagner talk about the the neighbors work, you know.

If if they're looking at a solar array over the tracks, are they eligible for the repairs from the things that are coming in, which I heard that yes, they're gonna be eligible.

Yes, and then um a lot of I heard a lot of complaints around the disruption of wildlife.

Um they really look forward to the birds and the animals, and it sounds like you're working with the zoo.

We're working with the zoo and the metro parks, but I would point you to a letter you hopefully received earlier today from a gentleman named Hank Thomas.

I don't see him in the audience, but he spoke very eloquently last time and addressed nearly every issue.

He's um has a great deal of experience in solar energy more than I do, and he specifically addressed some of those concerns and said that um, for example, the Audubon Society favors it over other sources of energy, and also there's a lot of potential for us to really develop the land responsibly.

I appreciate that.

And that you're the remaining land you're also going to be working in partnership to continue to keep nature coming.

Okay.

Um thank you.

That's all I have at this time.

Thank you.

President Williams.

Thank you so much.

I think this is so creative.

Um, you you especially is a federal, you said the federal grant, shut the front door.

We don't get that, we don't get many of that around.

We may not again, to be honest.

May not again.

Take advantage of this one.

The exciting part about this is that um we're using the land to actually produce energy and saving the land.

Um and using those dollars to rehab housing where we may not have future dollars to rehab housing.

So um pre-appreciate the the sustainability plan uh with my colleague, councilman comes, he's always pushed for that.

Um I'm excited to see how this goes.

Um, I've seen some solar, um, I know we the Metro Parks is trying to do it out, stick me.

Um, I mean, we have so much vacant land.

Why not help the community by saving costs, especially when I don't know if anybody knows, but Toledo Edison is actually First Energy is actually going forward to raise our energy cost over a three-year period.

So uh energy cost is gonna go up.

So I I see the benefit of it in several ways.

Um, I understand um, you know, we have had a lot of uh a lot of information presented in our emails over the last few days.

Um but we have to look at the picture holistically um for the future.

There's not many federal, especially something that's talking about clean energy.

That is not this this administration's goal um for clean energy.

So to have uh historic south and the good work that you've been doing, re actually grab those dollars.

Um, my question is when you're getting it, uh are you holding on to it and uh make sure they can't take it back.

That's all I got.

Thanks.

That's why we're here today asking to move the process forward as efficiently as we can.

Thank you.

Councilman Martinez.

Uh thank you madam chair.

Um, director, you can sit down.

Is it I have more questions for the director?

Um currently this land is zoned what uh limited industrial limited industrial.

Is this considered a brown field at all?

I'm sorry.

Is it I'm sorry, is this considered a brown field at all?

It could be.

Uh I'll defer to Lisa again, but I believe there were some dumping on the site of construction materials from previous time.

Yes, um, this was originally owned by uh concrete company, so there are um case when we did our case history research.

Uh there was um information when it before it was taken over by the city, the fact that there was concrete slabs, so those have been broken up according to our records.

They were broken up, and that's kind of right where they want to put the solar array.

You can see on the aerial, it's more cleared, it's the cleared area in this, it's not all the wooded part, and um that's where I believe that's where they would have buried all the concrete.

Gotcha.

Um, so then I guess my other question is um it's been a while, but I I remember this site specifically because we're looking 30 years ago, you know, to um possibly redevelop it, and it just wasn't viable just because of the access and the uh slope and everything, plus it was a brown field dumping stuff through concrete, so nothing's changed much.

Um, and I and I guess my question is.

Um, so this seems to be.

Does this fit with the forward to ital plan?

So the forward Toledo plan uh targets us for utility, although the Ford Toledo plan also has, you know, the plan's based on themes.

One of the themes is sustainability.

Uh use of use of water, uh building, place, those themes, but the sustainability theme is is one of the major tenants of the Fordolito plan.

Um, and and the fact that they're gonna take this money and reinvest it back into the neighborhood, I think follows more of the forage deleted themes of helping small businesses, helping homeowners and rebuilding our neighborhoods.

So I would say, oh, okay.

No, no, this is super creative.

I know Detroit's doing something similar.

Um, and I guess um, Mr.

Wagner, if you could come up, I just have a couple questions for you.

Uh so if first of all, uh thank you for so much for what you do for the old South End.

Um, it's been much needed, and as a former CDC director there, you know, I sincerely appreciate your passion and shared passion to help revive the old South End.

Um, if I have one small criticism, is when we think about HSI, it's community portion first.

You guys have a lot of great ideas, and you've done very, very well, and you've made a great impact, but sometimes it's always missing that community portion of it.

And I see you have Mr.

Baddock who is well versed in community engagement and community um development, and so you have a great team.

Um, but I just think moving forward, you know, just to remember to have more community engagement, more community.

If I may, I think what's not visible is the interconnections of all the other organizations that I mentioned.

So if you look at the Belief Center at Squawk at the schools, they're all in partnership with us.

So I think we we represent each other.

Great.

And I think perhaps the world you're talking about is five or ten years old, actually, in terms of those connections with people.

Perfect.

Okay, great.

I'm I'm glad to hear that.

Uh, because I remember the the same with the new houses that you built, which is like first ones in like 30 years.

I think the last re real development in that area were the tax credit project.

Right, 30 or 10 years.

But again, you've got the community portion of that, you know, just the um no shade.

I'm just saying, and again, and then you know, I've talked to many residents even about that aspect.

There's a misunderstanding of even those funds, they work for infill only, they couldn't be used for repair.

So I think we've used the opportunity to educate people on what these grants are for and how they are so beneficial for the community.

And that that's great.

Um, so my I guess my one of my questions uh is in terms of the design, was there any community input about the design or you know, is it sounds like you're working with the zoo who are experts in this?

So we're very early in the process.

I can introduce Molly to tell more about the design of the project, but we're we're still at getting a site.

Great.

And then the next part will be selling electricity, we still don't need to build it.

But as Joan mentioned, landscaping, security, fencing, all of those ideas have come to us, and I think more will continue to come as as we work with the community and with experts in building this.

Great.

Um and then it's my understanding.

So the walk me through the process.

So once the energy is harnessed, you're it's gonna be sold to whom.

So I'm gonna let Molly come up and address it.

Not because I can't, because I'm in your shoes where you were before.

Of I shouldn't be talking about those things.

Can you state your name and address for the record, please?

Yes, ma'am.

Uh Molly Thompson Elevated Energy 30120, Waterford Drive, Perry's Burg, 43551.

Do you swear to tell truth and nothing but the truth?

So say I do.

I do.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Okay, um, so can you please restate your question?

So I was you to walk me through the process because this isn't your first rodeo and working on Maumee River, correct?

Yes, so um the process of this project is to first get the SUP approved.

We have already been talking to potential hosts who are interested in buying the electricity.

Um we've been talking with First Energy for many months.

They already are aware of the project and have said that once we get the SUP in place and are able to move forward, they don't see any issues um in moving forward to do an interconnect for the project.

Um, and we have just finished one, another project uh locally where we were able to get that completed.

Um we started construction in September, the interconnect and working with First Energy was completed on December 31st.

And that's a really short process, but it's because that's what we do um all day.

Do you remind me what project that is?

I'm sorry.

Can you remind me which project that is?

Oh, I'm sorry, I'm very proud of that project too.

So it's the Sisters of St.

Francis.

It's the carport at Lourdes on the campus of Lords.

Okay.

So then after you get the Interconnect, First Energy buys the okay.

So sorry, I probably said something of turn.

Um so the project is constructed, we start getting energy, it gets sold to a host, and then the proceeds from that will go to Historic South, either to a designated fund or to the organization, however, they set that up, and then they that gets to go, and it's 100% of the proceeds of that will go back into the community.

Wow, that's great.

It's very creative.

Mm-hmm.

Okay.

That's I just want to make sure I always deal with that.

That's that's super cool.

As a as a business, that is our business model, is to take something like a solar project, which is a really interesting, cool, usually a good asset.

But over time, if you don't have an organization that is skilled in that, it could become a liability.

It's already happened in town.

We make sure that doesn't happen.

So working with Historic South, we have created it so that it is a 25-year recurring revenue of a minimum of $100,000 that gets to go back into the community.

That's our business model, and that's what we do with Historic South and every client we have.

So then is how do I want to phrase this?

Could this be used as a pilot project for other communities or the neighborhoods?

Um, so we're doing it with the Sisters of St.

Francis 100% it could be, because we have that model, and it's called turning energy into impact, which is a trademark process that we have, as is return on mission.

So our goal is not to just most projects, solar projects, end as soon as the project flips on.

That's just when ours are getting started.

So we measure it and connect it back to number of home repairs, number of people served, income generated on an annual level, because that is their mission, and we give them a measurable, tangible way to do that over 25 years.

Got it.

Wow, that's great.

Okay.

So then so you're still in the predevelopment phase, I would assume you haven't you have your designs yet.

We have um so that also should have been delivered to everyone.

The I don't know if that comes from planning commission, but the the packet that's got renderings in it.

Um so if not, we'll make sure that you have it.

But we already have those render renderings that have been created.

Got it.

So you can see on the site map the layout there, but we also have some rendering, so I will make sure.

Did those get okay?

They were hand delivered last week.

We will make sure that you have electronic versions of those as well.

Okay, great.

Yeah, I'd be curious to see what the vignettes look like, and then if you know, if they're still in design concept, will there be an opportunity for the community to kind of weigh in to see which one they like best or anything like that?

Or is it more structural?

It's a structural thing.

So what we do is it is designed and built this called the fixed tilt system.

So from the ground to the very top is only nine feet.

So given that there's the railway and then it goes down a little bit, we have created it so that it maximizes the sun exposure, and it minimizes any obstruction.

Okay, great.

Well, thank you so much for the recap.

I just wasn't 100% sure on the process, and I appreciate you coming down.

Thank you.

Yeah, thank you for your time.

I appreciate it.

And you step away.

Um, is there anything that that um so if something happens, the system malfunctions, there's uh you know, vandalism.

Um, what is uh what happens?

Uh are you involved in this for a long time?

Do you let it loose and they're responsible to pay for it out of their proceeds?

Like, how does that work?

That's a great question, thank you.

Uh I forgot to mention this little gem.

Part of our business model is having watched other projects go through this and have um such a big obstacle to overcome as a nonprofit who doesn't understand solar.

We have already built that 25-year maintenance um budget into the project.

So it's there for 25 years, so that it that makes it easy so that the nonprofit can focus on the work that they were designed and created to do.

And then if there's a problem or an issue, they call us and we handle it for them.

Okay.

Thank you for that clarification.

Yes, thank you.

I'm sorry I left that out.

I get so excited talking about this.

Thank you.

Alright, thank you.

Any other questions?

Not from council members.

I can open it up to the public here.

Thank you.

Is there anyone in the audience who wants to speak for or against uh case number seven?

Hello.

Can you pull down the microphone, please?

And state your name and address for the record.

My name is Penny Noyes.

I live at 634 Lotus Avenue.

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

So I live right across from the area at 634 Lotus.

Um I disagree with that, not with her saying that it would not block the our site of the river.

It does go down probably about nine feet by where the railroad tracks are, but then the land gradually goes up.

And so by the time the nine foot panels are put by the area that's closer to the water, we won't see the water anymore.

It'll block our view.

And I did point that out to Consulman Soranto when he came and visited us.

This refers to an ecological phenomenon where large-scale solar farms visually mimic the appearance of a body of water.

This illusion caused by polarized light reflecting off the dark flat panels of surface of the panels frequently disorients migrating birds and bats.

It happens because many birds and aquatic insects navigate and locate habitats using polarization vision because water naturally polarizes and reflects sunlight.

A large expanse of glossy polar panels creates the exact same visual cue from the air.

The environmental impact is that the birds attempting to land on what they think is water often collide with the glass structures or plummet to the ground, resulting in severe injury or death.

Also, large swarms of insects will attract birds in the same way.

The carefully evaluating the placement of utility scale solar projects away from major migrant migratory flyways, such as the Maumee River, can prevent these accidents from happening.

I've seen many migrating birds going down the water.

I've seen herons, turkey vultures, many bald eagles.

I showed um Soranto that Soranto, I'm sorry, I'm nervous.

Um that um the video of the bald eagles flying over this area.

Uh there also I have a uh Merlin bird ID app, and it also shows many birds migratory birds flying in the area.

We also have had for the five plus years um northern mockingbirds nesting in the area, and um that's very unusual.

Some of the more the you know, unusual birds are the black throated green warbler, and there's many other warblers.

There's eastern kingbird, northern flicker, um, many different sparrows, Baltimore Oreoles, um pine ciskin, which is unusual, and a dark eyed junko, which is unusual, brown creeper and gray-cheeked thrush, those are both unusual.

And I'm just worried that this is going to cause issues with them and they would be injured.

I'm not against the solar panels.

I just want to see them put them somewhere else than along the Maumee River.

So I think this should go to committee.

And please don't let the solar panels be put along the river.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

We'll have you answer at the end.

So is anyone else would like to come up?

Yeah, we're gonna time uh these comments for three minutes.

So if you can, we have to get through.

Uh we've been sitting here a long time.

Um you may not have been sitting here a long time, but we've been here a long time.

So unfortunately, we have to be mindful uh of others.

May I say you've offered them a lot of time, and if we want to present our counter our they are the applicant, so they have to explain the okay, but there's a lot of things to have said.

Okay, I'm sorry, I'm talking out of here.

Yes, yes.

Please state your name and address for the record, please.

My name is Sue Terrell, and I live at 1844 Lindbrook, Stoledo 14.

Thank you.

You swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

So say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

I'm a little bit conflicted.

I want to raise the microphone, please.

Oh, thank you.

I uh the friends of the mommy river sent a packet, which I believe you've all read and received six or seven letters.

Okay, the reason I say that is I have my own personal statement, but so I'll have to review some of that information that you have already received.

But in general, this is what we're proposing.

We request to refer to committee and withhold approval until a community benefit agreement is executed.

Now, what I'm presenting is part of six separate pages, so I'll try to do my best to summarize as best I can.

But we're not opposed at all to clean energy or this investment deal.

This is a great investment.

But our concern is how in the heck did they choose this location without our the people in the neighborhood knowing about it?

Uh right, we want a creative idea, but the creative idea didn't consider what other areas were considered.

Why was the area by the river chosen?

Uh, do they understand that the ri behind all the the trees and at times the railroad, that there is a beautiful river there.

I am going to be 78 years old.

Our family moved there when I was three years old.

We saw the complete river all the way from the casino all the way up to the throwaway, and you could see the whole river.

Can you imagine what it's like living next to a river and being able to see that?

And of course, over time the railroad did not keep up, you know, with the uh their due diligence of responsibility of trimming the trees, and they uh were parking the uh trains too long on the tracks.

So the new neighbors didn't understand the value of what is behind the those trees, and um so that's it's very frustrating to have to say this, you know, with so little time, and I know I'm not gonna include include it all, so I'll read what I can.

So we're not opposed to solar, but we're skeptical of specific project of this specific project as currently structured.

We believe council has both the authority and responsibility to require stronger protection and clearer documentation before approving a 20 to 25 year old land use decision on public land and one of Toledo's most historically underserved neighborhoods, and then we explained the concerns why and um part of that I explained the project, but part of this of our history that you need to know is the old South uh and master plan, as of 2017, approved by the council, said that this is supposed to be a green space, eventually a river park.

It's documented in the plan.

The map is there.

That's what the neighbors know about the neighborhood.

They didn't know anything about the solar uh project coming into the time is up.

Oh my god.

I'm sorry.

We have to move on to other residents in the neighborhood.

Yeah.

Please come forward.

Please state your name and address for the record, please.

My name is, excuse me, Steve Seaton.

I live at 802 Lafayette Street in Toledo.

Raise your hand, please.

Sorry.

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

So say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

Once again, I'm Steve Seaton.

I represent the Broadway Coder Coalition.

We are a group of non-profits, churches, residents, major stakeholders who are dedicated to the revitalization of the Old South End.

Historic South Initiative is a founding member.

We started back in 2014 to create a master plan for the old South End, which I think Councilman Driscoll may have had a part of.

And uh the master plan came out in 2017, was accepted by City Council, the mayor, and is in fact an amendment to the Cindy's comprehensive plan.

To be brief, this is zoned industrial.

The site plan is extremely complementary to our built environment.

They're only taking up a small portion of the site, so there's plenty of room for birds and whatever in there.

But the I think as Councilman Martinez said, the endowment that the proceeds of this is going to bring to the old South End, millions of dollars over the life of it, is really an extraordinary thing.

And I am very grateful to Marcy Captor for bringing the money home at a time when it's being cut off by the Trump administration.

So to me, this is a win-win.

Let me just address the issue of um riverfront park in the creation of the old South End Master Plan, one of the recommendations was to have more parkland, and it says to further study the viability of a riverfront park.

And so that's something certainly that we would want in our long-range plan, but it would never happen anytime soon.

I'll tell you that.

Not when you deal with the railroad with land acquisition, there's no money for it, it would cost tens of millions of dollars.

Would I love to see a riverfront park in the Maumee River for the residents and stakeholders of the Old South End?

Yes, I would.

But we have to focus as a Broadway quarter coalition on achievable objectives in the short term, like housing and commercial rehabilitation, education, etc.

So, this uh does not preclude it, but the idea of a riverfront park would be nice someday somehow, maybe.

But this is a real project now, it's funded, it's ready to go, and it will provide needed funds for low and modern income people in the old South End.

So I would ask for your approval of this.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

Pardon me.

Councilman Martinez.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um, it's a question for Director Contrell.

The SUP, how long is it good for?

Uh from our standing before they develop, or I mean so if we improve the SUP, right?

It's good and definitely indefinitely.

Okay, so in perpetuity.

Correct.

And but the city owns the land?

Correct.

Right?

Okay, yes.

So this is just a temporary use in perpetuity, technically.

But if something happens or there's a different project, the city still controls the property.

That's correct.

Okay.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

State your name and address for the record, please.

Hi, my name is Tonda Kazicki, and I live at 3929 South Detroit Avenue, and that is a Toledo, Ohio address.

Um I love the word perpetuity, ma'am.

It was great.

You have to get sworn in.

Sorry.

Do you swear it to Rachel Hang, please?

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

If so say I do.

Yes.

Thank you.

Go ahead.

Okay.

First of all, all due respect to Historic South and all the great things that all those organizations are doing.

No disrespect at all.

And I want to see the South and the community get stronger and stronger.

So I love that.

I do not think that a solar panel, solar panel project belongs on riverfront in this case, especially considering what we've done with Glass City and with middle grounds.

And I have heard this said a few times today that this is unusable land.

However, I believe hearing that before about middle grounds property and the property that Glass City is located on.

So when we say unusable land, I would like that backed up by something more than, hey, it's unusable.

I need to know more about that.

About if it really is unusable and why is it unusable?

And should we do that environmental review that I have not seen?

And if I understand it correctly, it sounds like it doesn't require one because of the special use permit.

I don't have that answer.

We'll get that answer.

Please continue with your comments.

Okay.

Um, so um, so we said you have 25 conditions.

I'd like to know what those are and what the one waiver is, because um that'd be great.

Um, I really like to look at the restoration of the riverfront so we can really be what we could be, um, which would increase property values, which would help the South end, maybe not as much as this cash coming in every year.

However, do you have a contract?

Does HSI have a contract legally binding contract?

Ma'am, they're not gonna answer questions.

We just want you to go ahead.

That's another question.

That's a concern that you have, yes.

So um, this is city land, and in 2017 it was um determined that it would become a park, like we talked about.

And and you folks are elected for the most part, I believe, um, by Toledo residents, not by Perrysburg residents, not by Sylvania residents.

You were elected by Toledo residents, and so I just want to remind you of that, and wanted to talk a little bit about the customer.

Who is the customer for the solar energy?

So is one been required, and and folks, city council folks and plan commission folks.

If you're sitting up here approving this and you don't have the answers to these questions, it's a little disconcerting.

No, no offense.

Um, I know everyone's been through a long meeting before this.

Um we talked about the security.

I wasn't sure what who are you?

Are you afraid of the residents in the neighborhood?

Are you protecting the panels?

I I don't understand that.

Um, when you talked about the zoo and metro parks and how glorious they think your ideas are, where is I don't see where they endorsed it.

If they're endorsing this, that's something different.

That would mean something to me if they're endorsing this.

If Audubon was endorsing this, and it's not, oh, we're just gonna kill a few birds.

What she's talking about needs to be in environmental review.

Is this true that that's gonna hurt our migratory um birds?

I mean, it is bird week.

It just makes me a little bit nervous, and I will closing in conclusion and no disrespect respect intended.

I just think Toledo is on a really good roll right now of improving our riverfront and our waterways.

This is the Maumee River, it's in Perrysburg too.

It's this is something that a lot of people need to care about.

Thank you, ma'am.

And it sounds great.

I want Historic South to have money, I do.

But when you guys hear grant money, and I betcha, I betcha who knows what where this grant came from.

You know it's federal, but what what's the name of the grant?

Okay, ma'am.

When you hear grant money, your time is up.

I'm just really concerned that we are doing an old WBC, and that does stand for Old White Boys Club.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh um I have to continue opening, and then we can we can um have uh recap.

Uh anyone else who would like to speak?

Thank you, sir.

Please state your name and address for the record.

Timothy Fields, 5420 Heather Downs, Apartment 14, Sleet Ohio 43614.

And would you raise that microphone up?

You're a tall guy.

You guys hear me?

I guess.

And do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

If someone say I do?

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Calvin.

Good afternoon, Council members.

Timothy Fields, founder and executive director of BSN Community, and our STEM Center is located in the Old South End.

Every day we work with the youth and families in this neighborhood who simply want the same opportunities as everyone else.

Safe spaces, investment, hope in a future they can believe in.

For too long, communities like the OSOFN has heard promises while continuing to deal with this investment and being overlooked.

I also want to personally thank HSI for not only continuing to fight for this community, but supporting organizations like ours and helping build out our STEM center for local youth and families.

Well HSI is doing this bigger than a project.

It's about creating long-term sustainability and reinvesting back in the people who live here.

Our youth are watching what decisions are being made here today, and they deserve to see their leaders believe in their future.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, sir.

Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to speak for or against?

Okay.

Please come forward.

State your name and address for the record, please, and pull down the microphone.

Thank you.

My name's Kathleen Brushnahan Durr.

I live at 4254 River Road here in Toledo, 43614.

I was present and excuse me, this morning.

Sorry.

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

If so say I do, I do.

Thank you.

I um I was present for the first meeting at the library.

I think it was a public meeting at that time.

Subsequently, I was here for the planning commission meeting, which I believe was a few weeks ago.

So this is my third time here talking about this.

I just want to go on record to start with saying that personally myself, I think it's a great program, solar power energy.

We need it, it's sustainable, it's renewable.

My biggest concern is the location.

Everything that has been presented by everybody to my right, it's a great program.

I just think it's the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Marmy Riverfront is one of the most valuable resources that we have here within our community.

Stands for recreation, wildlife, the aesthetics, the beauty, tourism, the character of the entire Toledo area, not just for short-term placement projects.

Residents, myself have been asking Toledo City Council to carefully reconsider everything that you have heard and reconsider whether this is truly the proper location to put this project.

And I think there's a majority of agreement that we all agree it's a good theory concept as far as the energy.

There needs to be more meaningful dialogue, more transparency, more accountability, and not just an opportunity to speak for the record to follow protocol and guidelines for meetings.

Realizing that solar energy is here, but maybe look at other options and explore other places to put this.

Development decisions along the Maumee Riverfront should balance environmental with preservation, recreation, aesthetics, and the wishes of the surrounding community.

I think we need to slow the process down, hit the brake pedal a few times, give it a little bit more consideration, and start looking at other options around the city.

To achieve these renewable energy goals, we must do it without permanently altering an important riverfront area.

We can always build homes, we can always build businesses.

We can't recreate and build rivers.

There's not a lot of good riverfront area left.

I asked the city of Toledo Council members to hit the pause button on the proposal to seek and consider a committee.

There needs to be more accountability.

The decisions that we all make that you make today about moving this forward will shape the old South End community.

Ma'am.

So we go for decades and respect.

Please listen closely.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Um we're gonna let you do three minutes if you want to uh if you want, is there anyone else who would like to speak for or against this project?

Is there anyone who would like to speak for against this project?

Okay.

I'm gonna go ahead and let you uh answer perhaps some of the questions that were raised if you if you so wish.

Thank you.

Um I do want to correct a few pieces of information.

Um first of all, this is not a utility-scale project.

Um I wish it were that would be huge amounts of money going into the old South End.

This is not a utility scale project.

Um also I'm not sure where the reference to glare from the solar panels came from, but any current solar panels these days are designed for minimum minimal glare, minimal impact.

And also um if you look at the the site as it is, what blocks any kind of a view are the trees that are currently along the river.

Um and as we've shared, this is a long-term project, it is not a permanent, unalterable project.

So if at some point um down the road um decommissioning has also been factored in so that at the end of the life cycle of this project, that cost is already factored into the project.

So it is designed to provide millions of dollars over 25 years into the old South End.

And then Joe wanted to ask or address two other things.

I just want to talk about the master plan and the potential for the park.

Um, just noting in the master plan, it was simply a recommendation that that area would become a green space.

And then I believe this was submitted to you already, but this is from Joe Fosno.

Um, when we inquired him about the potential for the development into a park.

Uh, he said, as appealing as a riverside park would be, we have not developed a way to overcome the access issues present at the site between the rail line and the heavy industry surrounding this parcel.

It is nearly impossible to provide a safe safe access route to this parcel for the public.

We currently have no plans to develop a park at this site in the foreseeable future.

So I do want to say on top of that, to Molly's point, if this is a semi-permanent 20-year solution, well, God bless us all in 20 minutes, 28 years.

Maybe we are talking about building a park, but presently respectfully today, we are not.

So this is a project that's in front of you today, and we ask for your approval.

Thank you.

You've already spoke, ma'am.

You've already spoke.

We were having them address the questions that were raised by some of the public.

And I can address some of those areas.

No, ma'am.

No, ma'am.

We've gotten your emails.

Um, we're we're good.

We we have the information.

Thank you.

Is there anyone on council has any questions?

Okay.

I do not.

Okay.

Um council member Gaddis.

Thank you.

I just want to ask how will um postponing or uh delaying.

How does that impact the grant?

Because there is federal money wrapped into that.

So is there a strict timeline?

Um, one of the things that as a company that we have built into this model is all the ways that we can derive revenue.

So it's not just the energy, it's also federal incentives that are currently available, and in that ever-changing landscape that I know we are all familiar with, deferring this could put that in jeopardy and significantly hinder the project.

So our hope is to get this approved so that we can move forward and make sure that we capitalize on all the available resources to make this project viable and um beneficial for the community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Gaddis, what is your recommendation?

The neighborhoods HSI is a really great partner, and they're very strong.

And I think as we as we're changing things, there's going to be growing pains, and the opportunity for this to be really something awesome is really great.

And I hear the concerns of the neighbors because we've seen so much, especially when you're in disinvested neighborhood, you see so many promises that don't get made.

And that causes distrust, right?

And so there's a lot to overcome.

I am hopeful that HSI will overcome that.

But since the neighbors have so many concerns, I'm going to refer to move this matter without recommendation.

See no objections, so ordered.

Okay.

This will go to the full city council on uh June 9th.

Uh and let's see, we do have uh you do have to need to fill out some paperwork with our clerk.

Okay, let's move on to item number 12.

And case number 12 is a request for a zone change from from RM36 multi-dwelling residential to CO office commercial for the property located at 2108 Collingwood Boulevard.

Case number is Z26-0005.

The plan commission recommends approval.

Ma'am, can you state your name and address uh for the record?

Christine Palmer, 2108 Collingwood Boulevard, Toledo, Ohio.

Thank you.

Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

If so, say I do.

I do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can you tell us about your um zone change?

Yes.

I'm Christine Palmer.

I'm the executive director of Collingwood Presbyterian Church.

And the purpose of our request is to allow for the installation of an exterior sign that clearly communicates the wide range of activities and services taking place within our historic building.

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

We now on average have about 35 people on any given Sunday.

So we need to use our building to generate income to be able to maintain the building and still provide activities for the community.

Currently, we do not have a permanent sign.

We had two large monument signs that were uh 12 feet long each, but unfortunately in 2018, a car hit one sign, and then again in 2020, a car hit the other sign.

Um so our goal is to have a vibrant building with money activities for the community.

Currently, we have Sacred Steel Music and History Museum.

We have Peace Tabernacle Church, we have unbounded artists who provide art classes for the community.

We have a gallery and um we have creating eternal bonds, which is a children's after school program.

We have a gallery and community room.

We currently have Toledo School for the Arts has an art exhibit through June in the gallery.

We have the Charles R.

Johnson Family Center, which is an activity room, youth rooms, 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 our 300 person capacity banquet hall.

But you would be unaware of all this from the outside of our building.

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

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

So we are requesting the zoning change to office commercial so we can have a medium, a medium or low-profile ground sign, and the sign design has already been approved by the Old West End Historic Commission contingent upon today's decision.

Thank you.

That sounds like it's gonna be quite a sign.

Uh that's a lot of lot of things going on over there.

Uh Ms.

Catrell, do you have anything to add?

Um, you know, we're we're supportive of this.

Uh we want to save these old churches.

We've we've got a lot of churches in Toledo that are are in need of some sort of adaptive reuse, and you're gonna see this with the zoning code update, an adaptive reuse program that allows multiple uses of one building that that saves these buildings and helps this church.

Um, the CO zoning is our least intense commercial zoning.

Uh, we feel it's appropriate here, it's not gonna allow uh the more intense uses, but it does allow them to replace their slime and to continue their mission in the old West End.

The old West End is supportive of it, and there's no opposition.

Thank you.

Is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number 12?

Again, is there anyone in the audience who would like to speak for or against case number 12?

President Williams, what is your recommendation?

I'm so sorry you had to be here so long, it'll be worth it.

It'll be worth it.

Uh thank you for always thinking of creative ways to do something in Collingwood Prosperia.

You guys are amazing, and I'm so excited to see what else you're doing there.

Sending to the full city council as approved.

And again, I apologize.

That's okay.

Thank you.

But we've been here four hours.

Seeing no objections, so ordered.

Thank you.

Um, uh Miss Catrell, do you want to go ahead and address um case number 13 and 14?

So outstanding studies and not been a long day for you, so I'll just keep it to the big one is the zoning code rewrite.

We have chosen a consultant, and we're gonna move forward quickly on that.

Um, regarding the moratorium, the historic moratorium is about five months away.

We have chosen a consultant for that as well.

Um, and then you're gonna see a set of study stream of studies.

I'm sorry, of zoning code text amendments uh in the next couple of months.

So all right.

Is there any other business to be cut to come forward?

Okay, seeing no objections, this meeting is adjourned.