SWANTON TOWNSHIP – Land-Air Commerce Park – a development between the turnpike, airport and Berkey-Southern Road – is poised for rezoning to accommodate three large warehouses, a truck terminal and other facilities, Swanton Township Zoning Inspector Ben Mooney told township trustees during their Aug. 11 meeting.
Interstate Capital recently purchased 14 parcels and is asking to rezone 13 properties totaling 112 acres. Current zoning is a mixture of C-4, M-1 and an overlay district. The owners are asking for a uniform M-1 zoning. The proposal will be heard by the Lucas County Planning Commission during its Wednesday, Sept. 23, 9 a.m. meeting at 1 Government Center.
Land-Air Commerce Park is currently home to Game One, a 131,800-square-foot light manufacturing facility, and Velocity, a managed technology solutions provider that recently began a a $1.5 million expansion with plans to add 40 employees.
The commerce park is in a Toledo Express Airport Joint Economic Development District (TEA-JEDD) with Swanton Township, Monclova Township and the City of Toledo, with a 1.5 percent income tax used to make investments in the area.
During the meeting, the trustees also:
-Heard Trustee Matt Beil share an update from the TEA-JEDD Aug. 5 meeting, in which members toured the airport and learned about plans for improvements in the next few years. See related article here.
-Listened to Springfield Township Fire Chief Jonathon Ziehr say that the department responded to 25 calls for service in July, including 19 EMS and six fire, and did fire prevention inspections or meetings with five of the 50 businesses in the northern part of the township. Ziehr also reported that the 25-year-old firefighter memorial housed on McCord Road is being moved and renovated for the Crissey Road station, using $20,000 in donated labor and materials, and will be unveiled in October during a public event.
-Heard Beil say that Whitehouse Fire Chief Jason Francis turned in a report for calls in the southern half of the township. In July, the department responded to 22 calls, including six fire-related incidents. Beil continues to work with Whitehouse and Swanton about a new contract for coverage for the area.
-Discussed the need to find residents to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals.
-Listened to Beil discuss some of the topics covered during the Lake Erie West General Assembly last month, including property taxes, AI use, new developments, data centers and website accessibility. The loss of property taxes would greatly affect Swanton Township, which relies on that revenue. The website was recently updated and now meets accessibility standards, he added.
-Discussed the process for approving and posting speed limit changes on roads around the airport, based on a speed study that was recently completed at the request of the airport.
-Heard an update from Mooney on ongoing cases. He learned that it will be at least three months before the county clears the title for 11650 Airport Hwy. – an abandoned home with $22,000 in back taxes owed – and completes an investigation. The property will to go a sheriff’s auction. The process will take at least three months, he said.
-Heard Mooney say that he issued three permits in the past month: for an outdoor bathroom at 11958 Reed Rd.; an addition to 14135 Monclova Rd.; and an ag exempt for 12001 Soul Rd.
-Listened to Mooney say that The Greens at Oak Openings wants to install a six-foot fence around equipment outside the building, but the zoning resolution states that only a four-foot fence is permitted because the property is on a corner. This will need to be reviewed by the Zoning Commission for a possible variance.
-Approved a $1,200 contract with T & J to remove a crimson maple and its root base in the cemetery.
-Discussed options for roadways that could be repaved using an Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) grant through the Lucas County Engineer’s Office. Among the options are sections of Sager and Reed, with varying levels of township matches. Trustees agreed to review the options and set a special meeting on Aug. 25 in order to meet the Sept. 11 deadline to apply.
– Learned that 107 residents have signed up for text alerts from the township so far.
-Heard that the township will host a free bulk trash drop-off on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the maintenance garage, 6576 Manore Rd.
