Zoning Board of Appeals - Regular Meeting

Ready when you are. Okay. February 26th uh meeting of the zoning board of appeals for the city of Bowling Green is in session. March 11th. Pardon me. March 11th. Oh, I apologize. Thank you. He was just telling me they lost track of a month. You March 2026. Pardon me. Will the secretary please call a role? Uh Jay Sachman here. Jeff Crawford here. Tim Emmerick here. Bob Mccumber here. Rod Noble here.

David Fleger here. Jerry Anderson absent. Okay. A quorum is present. The first order of business is the approval of the minutes from the February 2026 meeting circulated. Are there any additions or corrections to the minutes? Hearing none. Is there a motion for approval? So, motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Emer, seconded by Mr. Fleger. All those in favor say I. I. I. And the minutes are approved. Okay. Um, first of all, welcome. And

you must be our applicant. You're the only strange face, not unknown to me face here. I just want to welcome you and let you know that we'll try to keep it a little bit informal. Um, we understand that zoning can be a difficult thing for people to comprehend when the city's trying to tell you what you can and can't do with your property and we want you to feel at ease. We're very interested to hear what you have to say and we will we'll listen carefully. Um the zoning code as you know has been updated recently and there is a a whole section in there on uh how you can come to the zoning board of appeals and apply for variance. Um and the the one thing about that is if the strict application of the zoning code causes you a practical difficulty. That's what we look for. And the practical difficulty is something that's unique into your situation. the size of your lot, the slope of the yard, those sorts of things that's unique to you. So, um, as you go forward and with your testimony, please keep that in mind. And the seven criteria that I think you are familiar with that were part of the variance application, uh, we need to be aware of those and how the, uh, how all that affects your situation, too. Um, I'll read the request for the record. Um then our senior planner will give us the overview, the background of the situation and then we'll invite you up to the podium. Um we'll ask you to state your name and address and speak into the microphone and um anyone else who may come in who would want to comment will then be allowed the chance to do that. The board may have some questions for you and then at the appropriate time we'll close the public hearing part of the meeting and the board will discuss your your case, your testimony and uh

we'll we'll give you an answer. Um this um is a quasi judicial board. You're if don't like our decision, you can appeal it to the Wood County Court of Common please. Um as such there's a a court reporter present. we'll be taking a verbatim record that can be turned to a transcript and if if necessary and that also means that anyone who's going to testify needs to stand and swear an oath to tell the truth. So um having given that rundown if uh there's a signin sheet too in the back if if you haven't signed in already please do so. If you if you plan to testifiy this evening or think that you may testify please stand and raise your right hand. That would be you.

And uh do you swear that the testimony you'll give this evening will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth will help you God? I do. Okay. Very good. All right. If you want to uh Chase, go ahead and give us the the background.

Yeah. So, this is a pretty standard case that we have I'm bringing before you today tonight. Um so, Mr. Fretz has requested a variance to allow the construction of an 8tx 33 ft driveway extension, which is a widening um which is 4T wider than the maximum width allowed based on the width of the 20 foot foot wide garage to which it leads. In section 150.72 of all street parking where serving a one unit or two dwelling use, a driveway may not exceed the width of 20 ft or the width of the garage to which it leads whichever is greater. And this is an image of the asbuilt of his uh house. As you can see in the red box, that's the widening that Mr. uh Frretz is requesting. Here we have uh aerial view of his property. And this is from the auditor's website. Clearly, it was not updated in time uh for all the new builds that have been taking place. Here are images uh from his home from the street view. And if you can see it, the um you may not be able to see it, the track the tire marks on the concrete, but kind of at the end of those tire marks, that's about the edge of where this extension would be. So, it's before that second joint on that first panel. Um when you're when you're looking at it, um and here's another view of Mr. Fretz's property. Uh here is just a few terms that we uh utilize, that being driveway and off- streetet parking. I also would like to add even with this 8 foot uh wide extension, he will still have nine feet between his his driveway and the adjoining property or his property line. So there's there will be wibble room there. There was that and there were no uh phone calls or letters received in this matter and an advertisement was placed in the newspaper of general circulation as required. A site notice was placed at the site. Uh the other notices required

by the administrative code were posted in proper time and location and a letter was mailed first class mail to the tax milling address of the owner and the adjoining property owners. Uh therefore all procedural requirements for the hearing have been met. Okay. Very well. Mr. Fretz, like I mentioned earlier, please come to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Yep. Uh my name is Greg Frretz. My address is 1739 Wexford Drive here in Bowling Green, Ohio. Good. Can you confirm for me that you swore your oath to tell the truth? Uh yes. Okay. Tell us what's going on. what you have planned and remember that practical difficulty in the seven criteria that sure we talked about.

So I am hoping to widen this driveway to I I have two children um with a third one on the way surprisingly. Um kind of hoping to give us more space to park within our own driveway. Um less less street parking for us. um you know that you know that's kind of down the road. Um along with you know with less street parking it gives the opportunity for easier passing of governmental vehicles um delivery um vehicles to to get by with you know if I have three kids trying to park their cars you know you know in my current driveway or or out on the street I feel like it it kind of causes a backup. um you know on on my road. So you know our idea is having that widen driveway to to also to kind of give that you know more space for as they grow up. Um another you know item that we're hoping to to obtain here is giving a little bit more um area for um the young children to play. Um hopefully get them into a little bit of sports um as they get older. So maybe, you know, having a basketball hoop, um, playing out in the in the driveway versus, you know, if they're out in the street, anything like that. This kind of gives us a little bit safer area, um, for the kids to kids to play. Um, I I don't feel like this affects um the the curb appeal. Um, if anything, it fits in with the curb appeal of of my entire subdivision. there are already multiple um houses in my subdivision. I know that you guys have talked what I

read was that um the the zoning has changed for for this, but I also know, you know, there's it doesn't change. Um you know, the subdivision kind of it's all the same. We we have you know just trying to add a widened driveway um to to match with with rest of the subdivision. So that's all I have. Okay. Any questions from the board? Now I want to make sure I understand correctly. Yes, sir. The facts are you the widening is all on the one side of the driveway.

Yes. And I was a little confused when it said here that the an 8 foot by 33 foot driveway extension which is 4 feet wider than the maximum width. I thought the maximum width was the width of the garage door or 20 feet whichever is greater. Is that right? Yeah. So 20t. So his driveway now is 16 feet wide. So by extended by eight by additional 8t it gets to 24 feet. You take whoa take the four feet uh with the 16 that leaves four feet. Okay. So, essentially, you you have a two-car garage, I assume. I I have a two-car garage. Um with There you go.

with um many other items already on unfortunately in in my garage um as which is kind of being used as storage with the two kids um two young kids, you know, a third one on the way. So, it's not, you know, we're we use that as as space for keeping many of our items. When I drove by, I didn't notice a lot of on street parking. Okay. It was the time that I drove by and there just weren't cars parked, but it seemed like the street was pretty wide open.

It It was There was a lot Well, I drove by today. I'm sorry. There was a lot of on street parking. However, I I know last year we granted one person an extension back in there, but there's not too many driveways that are wider. I think there's only like two or three. I drove around. There's about five to seven of them. Is there five to seven? That whole area right in there. Yeah. Yeah. I And mostly the older area of it, right? Yes, that's what I saw, too. Yeah,

I know that there was there was one up there on on Ross Common. I there I don't Is it uh Kildair as you come into the subdivision all the way at the um end of Kildair there on the right there's a basketball inside. Exactly. Yes. That that he does have an extension there. Correct.

Correct. Yes. And and I know that on our back street it is it is not as busy at this point in time and and um as as that front street. I know that I don't know what the what the name of the street is right off of Kildair as soon as you enter into the subdivision, but I know that is a very busy street. You know, I we have many young kids on the back of our subdivision. I just foresee, you know, a significant amount of street parking as the subdivision ages. Yeah. When I when I drove through today, there was plenty of cars on the street. There was actually kids riding their bikes. Yeah. Uh so I mean less cars would be beneficial. Correct. But

okay. Any other questions for Mr. Pretz? Okay. You can have a seat and we'll close the public comment portion of the hearing. Any any discussion amongst the members here? When I drove through there, it was later in the afternoon when people were off work and there were quite a few cars throughout the subdivision, not necessarily just that road, but again, these are primarily newly built houses. So, a lot of them seem to be young families. And as that grows, that on street parking is going to increase exponentially because it was pretty busy when I drove down through there.

Okay. It's It's not the widest road either. Uh, you know, for less cars on the street would be better. I I just have I'm I'm really on the fence on this because a a lot of those houses in that stretch just have a, you know, normal driveway, 20 foot or whatever. Uh, you know, I'm I got two kids myself that are driving. I totally understand the whole parking situation. I mean, it's I shuffle cars on a daily basis. It it's it's a pain in the butt.

Um, and I do I do feel I mean I guess I don't really have a big problem. It it would help the resale value of the house. Probably wouldn't look too bad. It's further enough away from the other driveway. So, I'm probably for it, Jim. So to me um the 4T doesn't seem substantial. I don't think it would really alter the character of the neighborhood. I appreciate the thorowness of the application. I think there is some good points about once the the on street parking and the delivery of uh governmental services. So I would uh be in favor of granting this variance.

Okay. Um, for me, the only thing I didn't really hear was something unique to their situation, but the fact that he does have a 15oot sideyard set back there. And I agree with what Tim said. It doesn't seem to be a substantial request at this point in time. So, I don't have any any issues with it. Jeff, I don't have anything to add that hasn't anything else. David, Bob, anything else? No, nothing else. Is there a motion to approve as submitted? So moved. Moved by Mr. Crawford. Is there a second? That's as submitted. Second.

Moved by Mr. Crawford. Seconded by Mr. Sachman that the variance request be approved as submitted. Is there any further discussion? Okay. Mr. Secretary, please call the role. Uh Jeff Crawford, yes. Tim Emmer, yes. Bob Mccumber, yes. Rod Noble, yes. David Fagger, yes. Jay Aman, yes. Okay, your variance request was approved. And if you would be sure and follow up with the planning department, make sure you've got all the permits before you start construction. Good luck. Thank you, guys. Lobby visitations. Anybody? Mr. Harold? Nope. Okay.

I have one thing. I am going to email you our 2025 planning report so you can review that. I didn't make copies because it's a pretty lengthy report. Um, and I didn't want to take your time going over that, but I'll I'll email you a copy since it's on our website. Um, also wanted to give you a heads up that that we are um, fairly soon going to all digital applications and a digital permit process. It's going to be a big change for all of us, but I wanted to give you a heads up because it will it may look a little different once we print these documents for your packets and we'll give you the option, ironically, printing from digital um, if you don't want the printed copies that they could be digital. So, anyways, we're all working together on this. We've worked several I was going to say several months, but it's probably been at least a two-year project. Um, so again, just want to give you a heads up on that. And, um, we're hoping early April this will start, but um, we're still working out some kinks here and there, but we're very close.

Good. Um, going along with that, I know Jaime's does a great job and she's the the first point of contact and I think she talks to people about these applications and I'd really if we could get the sketches sometimes if we could get the detail that's called out in the application that would be a big help. This one in particular was a little bit of a challenge to see. So, this for what it's worth as you're going through that update. Um, anybody else? Nope. Motion to adjurnn. So moved. Yep. All those in favor say I.

I. We're journ our paper coming down the line.