Township Topics
–Mike Jones
PUBLICATION DATE: 06.19.18
Single-family permits
With the first third of the year in the books, the number of single-family housing permits in Sylvania Township has jumped ahead of last year. Daryl Graus, manager of the office of planning and zoning, reported to trustees that as of the end of April the township had issued a total of 50 such permits. At the same point last year the township had issued a total of 34 permits and that was well ahead of the 28 issued in 2016. However, Graus said he has learned not to predict year-end numbers based on fast starts.
The fast start in 2017 slowed and the annual total reached 93. The slower beginning, but steady rate of permits issued in 2016 saw a year-end total of 100. The average cost of a home being built in Sylvania Township so far this year is just under $270,000, according to Graus.
Road resurfacing
A road-resurfacing project slated for 2019 will be paid for in part by a grant of almost $250,000 as opposed to what likely would have been a loan for that amount. The project calls for roadwork on Wolfinger Rd. and Whiteford Rd. along with residential streets in the Bancroft Woods and Stonebridge condominiums areas at Bancroft St. and McCord Rd.
Rob Nash, streets department superintendent, noted that funding from other agencies for street projects in the township is based on a set of criteria, one of which is the amount of traffic on a selected street. He noted that residential streets, such as those serving condominiums, have relatively low use, which is true of Wolfinger Rd. By including heavily-traveled Whiteford Road as part of the project, the average amount of use of the roadways selected made the project eligible for a grant as opposed to a loan.
Nash pointed out that loans for such work are welcome, particularly because they are interest-free, but a grant is better.
Raises Approved
Part-time firefighter/emergency medical technicians have been granted a raise, recently approved by the Sylvania Township trustees. The raise in pay came at the request of township Fire Chief Michael Ramm, who said it would make his department more competitive with other area departments.
The part-time members will each get four percent raises. Those on the first step of the pay scale will now make $15.60 per hour; the second step, $16.64; third step, $17.68 and the fourth, $19.72.
The raises are the first since July, 2015 and will be retroactive to the first of the year.
Rezoning request denied
Sylvania Township trustees have rejected a request for rezoning property at Sylvania Ave. and Herr Rd. which had been sought by the Apostolic Christian Church of Toledo.
The applicant had hoped to construct a church building of about 10,000 square feet on the approximately five-acre parcel. The application sought zoning for commercial use from the existing light industrial/business park zoning. The church also applied as a planned unit development which would limit any use, if the change was approved for the site of a church.
The staff of the Sylvania Township zoning office recommended against the change, noting that the recently-approved township land use plan had designated that area as one for future light industrial or business park development.
The zone change had also been denied by the Lucas County Plan Commission and the Sylvania Township Zoning Commission.
Trustees split on the issue with John Crandall and Neal Mahoney voting against the change and John Jennewine voting in favor. After the meeting, Jennewine explained his vote saying that he is an advocate for private property rights. He added that it didn’t “sit right that a property owner can find a buyer, and it’s a church, and we tell him no.”
Battle of the Badges
The Sylvania Township Fire Department will compete against the Sylvania Township and Sylvania City police departments in a battle of the badges July 11, for first place in a blood drive.
Citing an annual shortage in blood donations over the summer months to the Toledo chapter of the American Red Cross, the department decided to have a friendly competition blood drive.
There are 54 donors needed for slots available for the drive to be held from noon to 6 p.m. at the Sylvania Senior Center on July 11. Some donors will be members of the safety forces but the public is also invited to donate.
After donating, which will be handled by Red Cross personnel, people will go to a canteen area where juice and cookies will be available. There may also be some lobbying going on as the donor decides which badge to credit for the donation.
Donors get a T-shirt from the Red Cross and also will be eligible to win a gift basket being put together by the safety forces and the administration of Sylvania Township.
Land rezoned
A parcel of land at the northeast corner of McCord Road and the University Parks Trail has been rezoned to make way for four single-family homes. In 2009, the approximately 4.5-acre parcel had rezoning approved for an eight-unit development, but it was never built.
The new land use plan for Sylvania Township designates the area for low to medium density residential. The property, which faces McCord, is currently undeveloped.