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A developer is proposing building senior housing at the southeast corner of State Rt. 25 and Five Point Road in Perrysburg.
Brian McMahon, president of Danberry National Ltd., is asking for 18.3 of 24.3 acres to be rezoned from commercial to multiple family residential. The remaining acreage in the front of the property would stay commercial.
Perrysburg City Council held a hearing on the request Tuesday. No action was taken. A vote could be taken by council in May, according to Marie Dunn, public information officer for the city.
The property is north of Saint John XXIII Catholic Parish, 24250 Dixie Hwy., and west of St. Clare Commons, which offers seniors independent living options through skilled nursing care, at 12469 Five Point Rd.
Brody Walters, Perrysburg zoning inspector, said the property was originally zoned agricultural. In August, all 24.3 acres were rezoned to C-4, highway commercial, Mr. Walters said. The new zoning request is for R-M, multi-family, on 18.3 acres.
Mr. McMahon said Danberry was retained to sell the property.
Pride One Construction, based in Medina, Ohio, is poised to develop the area, and it will be similar to a project it has in Perrysburg Township, off Oregon Road, Mr. McMahon said.
“What Pride One is proposing tonight is an active adult villa community that they will own, manage, and maintain,” he said. “We understand that there’s a great deal of concern about more apartments contributing more school-age children in the system.”
“This is a very compatible use for both our neighbors,” Mr. McMahon said, referring to the church and St. Clare’s.
A company located in Perrysburg is interested in opening a second “convenience store-grocery store” in the front of the property that would remain commercially zoned, he said.
They are actively working with a drug store to also build on this site, Mr. McMahon said. One or two restaurants are expected to take up the balance of the land.
Michael Knerem, development manager for Pride One, said the senior living development would be similar to one on Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township.
If the site is developed, Perrysburg schools will get $10 million over 10 years in taxes, and the city will receive $1 million, Mr. Knerem said.
“It’s a win for the school district, not a negative. They’re getting money for no kids,” he said.
Councilman Mark Weber asked if Mr. Knerem could really promise no children would be living in this new community.
“Pretty much zero,” Mr. Knerem said, again referring to the Oregon Road project in Perrysburg Township.
“We have roughly 35 percent leased and we have zero kids. The others that we have built, they’re all less than 5 percent kids,” he said. “They’re two and one-bed units. They’re not conducive to kids.”
The villas would be one story and 1,300 square feet.
“They’re not big enough for families,” he said. “It’s geared to people who want to downsize. The average age of our communities is over 60.”
Councilman Rick Rettig said there is another issue to consider with this citizenry.
“Would you be able to say that those would be the type of voters that would vote ‘yes’ for a school levy?” he asked.
There is concern about home and apartment developments in Perrysburg as the school district faces overcrowding and students are in modular classrooms. Two levies to build new schools and renovate others failed in November and March.
“Not that it’s going to solve your problem with the schools, it’s not,” Mr. McMahon said of the proposed development. “But it’s not going to contribute to your problem with the schools.”
Councilman Cory Kuhlman asked if senior villas would be a good fit in this area.
“I’m just worried about putting residential and multi-family close to [Rt.] 25 because that’s a potential area for development for industry and commercial,” he said. “When we’re trying to look at economic development for the city, that’s an area where it ... could occur.”
Mr. McMahon referred to the Oregon Road project in Perrysburg Township as an example of how everything can co-exist.
There are 80 acres of high-density multi-family development the township trustees have approved.
On the west side of Oregon Road, there is land that will be developed for warehouse redistribution, Mr. McMahon said.
“Neither one of those projects feel conflicted by the fact that they are in proximity with each other,” he said.
Mr. McMahon added that there are “some big changes” coming to the Rt. 25 area: a data center is planned for 750 acres south of Perrysburg in Middleton Township and Abbott is expected to break ground this year on a baby formula factory north of Bowling Green at Nims Road and Rt. 25.
The Perrysburg Land Use Plan states that this parcel is in the area defined as the suburban corridor. This designation allows for a mix of uses.
The Perrysburg Planning Commission voted against the change, 5-2, on Feb. 29.
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