A forthcoming animal hospital in the Crossroads will feature a large training facility attached to it.
At a February 10 meeting, the Rossford Planning Commission reviewed a new site plan for Perrysburg Animal Hospital, submitted by owner Dr. Brooke West, a veterinarian with current offices in Toledo and Perrysburg.
According to Mark Zuchowski, city zoning inspector, the final site plan for the veterinary office was approved by the commission in July, but the owners wanted to amend the documents to add a 7,200-square-foot training facility for animals.
“The square footage of the facility will greatly assist us in providing proper care and training space for the animals,” Dr. West said.
Mr. Zuchowski explained that “the accessory building is appropriate” in the current PC planned commercial zoning classification. “It’s a permitted use.”
The animal hospital building will be 10,000 square feet, located on three acres along Bass Pro Boulevard just east of Crossroads Parkway. The practice is expected to employ a maximum of 25 people.
Dr. West also requested a parking variance, which the commission granted.
The city zoning code requires one parking spot for every 200 square feet of space in the accessory building.
However, Mr. Zuchowski noted that “there’s not going to be a lot of everyday traffic –it’s a trainer and a couple owners of animals.”
The practice preferred to add just nine parking places for a total of 59, and the commission agreed.
“They do have land available to expand, if necessary,” the zoning inspector added.
Commission members Tom Uhler, Melanie Nyland, Andrea Henline and Mayor Neil MacKinnon III voted in favor of the parking variance and amending the site plan. Member John Rust Jr. was absent.
Roundabouts on Crossroads Parkway
The commission discussed updating the Crossroads access policy, which may include adding several roundabouts along Crossroads Parkway.
“There needs to be some changes made,” Mr. Zuchowski said. “The access plan has changed radically. When Bass Pro came, it changed all the roads.”
Todd Audet, city engineer and economic development director, said the purpose of the access plan is to smooth traffic “to try to preserve safety and property values.”
Laurie Adams and Corrinne Lochtefeld of the DGL engineering firm were invited to the commission meeting to explain options for managing traffic. Their firm also is conducting safety studies on State Route 795 and the I-75/U.S. Route 20 interchange.
Ms. Adams noted that traffic in the southbound turn lane on Crossroads Parkway often backs up past Deimling Road.
She believes adding roundabouts at Sportsman’s Drive and at Deimling could be options to keep vehicles moving.
However, she pointed out that the distance between the Deimling and Meridian intersections is short, and possibly Deimling would have to be moved farther north.
A new gas station/convenience store is planned for the east side of Crossroads at Route 795, plus a possible truck dealership may locate adjacent to it along an extension of Nature’s Way.
The planning commission has been debating for a year how to accommodate heavier traffic for those businesses, especially numerous potential left-hand turns at the Nature’s Way intersection.
Ms. Adams said adding a two-lane roundabout at Sportsman’s Drive may be a solution to that problem.
“It’s a way to move traffic through, faster and safer,” she explained. “It would move constantly and not stop at a signal. We’re working on an analysis.”
Other plans could be to add a roundabout between Deimling and Bass Pro Boulevard and limit the number of right in, right out drives from the parkway.
“You’ll need to get cross access easements in place– they help the flow,” Ms. Adams noted about smaller driveways that would run parallel to the parkway and connect businesses but do not require vehicles to drive on the parkway.
Ms. Lochtefeld displayed a video traffic plan based on data gathered from a December 15 traffic count for the parkway and its intersecting roads.
“When we have shift change, there are large backups,” she explained, adding that the problem may increase because the Amazon fulfillment center has only hired half of its expected workforce, and it is likely to grow this year.
Other development projects in the works will further contribute to traffic counts.
“You’re going to have a lot of trucks in and out of these developments,” she said. “Roundabouts help with less emissions and fewer stops and starts.”
Ms. Lochtefeld pointed out that traffic signals at Meridian and South Compass roads are not coordinated, so drivers frequently have to stop at two consecutive red lights.
“There’s some things that could be ironed out–some short-term solutions,” she said.
Mr. Audet will speak with Amazon officials about adding a roundabout near the fulfillment center and eliminating the traffic signal at Meridian.
He also noted that Amazon traffic trends will shift after Deimling and Lime City roads are improved in the near future.
“That traffic will go Deimling to Lime City–they’ll figure that out,” he added.
Mr. Audet said surveying work is being done to determine how much right-of-way would be needed to construct the roundabouts.
Parks and Recreation Committee
The recreation center is open and welcomes members to work out with appointments, according to Council President Oberdorf.
“This has been done with very little issues and ensures that contact tracing can be done if needed,” said Mr. Oberdorf, parks and recreation committee chair.
Fitness classes are expected to start March 1, and registration is under way for spring sports, although indoor room rentals are still prohibited, he added.
Toby Ledesma, parks and recreation director, shared plans for capital improvement projects in 2021 with the committee, and they include pickleball courts at John Folcik Park, painting and new carpet in the rec center and several Eagle Scout projects at Island View Park. The recreation department
The recreation department will look to fill a full-time maintenance position in mid-April with an upcoming retirement. The committee plans to update the job description.
Finance Committee
The city’s general fund last year ended just 1 percent lower than 2019.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic, “that’s pretty remarkable,” said Councilman Densic, chair of the finance committee.
Finance director Gina Schell presented a year-end financial summary to the committee at a recent meeting.
“Hotel/motel and beer/ liquor receipts were down,” Mr. Densic explained. “But income tax receipts were 5.9 percent above 2019.”
In conjunction, expenses were up 5 percent from 2019, primarily due to increases in city administration, the garbage/recycling contract, and police and fire.
The committee also discussed expenses with the two former elementary schools, now owned by the city.
Councilman Densic questioned if operational costs are being tracked.
“Utility costs seem in line,” he noted. “The question remains on ongoing or deferred maintenance items. None are budgeted.”
Some of the gym space is being used by residents and organizations, and the city has liability insurance covering that usage, Mr. Densic said.
The committee also asked about the requests for proposals that were being accepted.
“One proposal was received for Eagle Point and none for Indian Hills,” he said.
Law director Kevin Heban is checking to see if the city can list the properties with a realtor.
Other Business
In other business, council:
•Approved the mayor’s appointment of Andrea Henline of Creekbend Court to the planning commission for a four-year term, expiring November 30, 2024. She replaces Judy Heban.
Councilman Densic thanked Mrs. Heban for her decades of service to the commission. “She did a lot of work,” he noted.
Council member Eckel agreed, “Without people giving of their time like that, we can’t function as a city. She knows the history. I’m thankful to her for all she’s done.”
•Approved the mayor’s reappointment of Vickie Gallagher of Hannum Avenue to the street tree commission for a three-year term, expiring December 31, 2023, and the reappointment of Larry Shaw of Bruns Drive for a five-year term on the board of zoning appeals, ending November 30, 2025.
•Authorized a $176,053 contract with Smith Paving and Excavating Co. of Norwalk for road improvement work in the State Route 65 safety study project.
The engineer’s estimate for the work was $182,100, according to Ms. Murray. It will include curbs, guardrail, crosswalks, signs and erosion control.
Council’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m., Monday, February 22. Council voted to return to in-person meetings, so it will be held in the municipal building, 133 Osborn Street, and is open to the public.