The Henry Township Trustees have been proactive in their approach to the impending development that may follow the construction of the intermodal rail yard along State Route 18 (Deshler Road), in the south end of the township. They have created a Planned Business District Overlay Zone (PBDOZ) that is bordered on the north by SR 18, on the west by Rangeline Road, on the east by Liberty High Road and on the south by the Hancock County line. The approximately 1700 acres was zoned to protect the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare by providing for consistent and coordinated treatment of the properties located in the PBDOZ.

What this basically means is the requirements and standards are in place that will preserve the environmental and aesthetic qualities of the lands within the zone, and manage access to property in a manner that will maintain traffic safety and roadway capacity. Site plan review and approval will be needed for all new development and for any existing commercial structures. In addition the Ohio Department of Transportation will require driveway access permit application for any new or modified access onto SR 18. Single-family homes and agriculture dwellings and uses, are exempt from the site plan review and overlay zone requirements.

This overlay zone will expressly forbid and exclude several types of businesses and uses, including auction markets with outdoor display or storage; auto wrecking/salvage/junk yards; flea markets; manufactured home, mobile home or industrialized dwelling unit sales; manufactured home park; truck stops – businesses which primarily carters to the needs of the trucking industry, by offering fuel, dining facilities, gift shops, emergency repairs and lodging or similar types of services; off-premise signage; roof signs; pole signs; sexually oriented businesses; self-storage warehouses (mini warehouses); land fills and bill boards.

Minimum setback and frontage requirements are other important facets of the overlay zone, with specific distances that must be maintained from off the roadways. Existing lots, as well as residential and agriculture uses are exempt from these requirements. Other functions of this planning also encompasses access drives and roads, with traffic maintenance and safety needs met by attempts to eliminate unneeded driveways and curb cuts, through the use of shared roads and facilities where possible.

ODOT, the Wood County Engineer and the Henry Township Zoning Inspector are responsible for any studies needed to investigate the feasibility and benefits of improvements. Included for review would be landscaping and design elements. This will provide for green spaces, parking lot buffers, screens and whatever is necessary to maintain a pleasant view.

In addition Henry Township has been in conversation with Rex Huffman representing the Northern Wood County Port Authority. Mr. Huffman addressed the trustees during their meeting February 23, and discussed options for working with the group on gaining additional funding for the overpass that has been promised and planned to be included with the intermodal project. The township was told by CSX that the cost of this overpass is now estimated to be in excess of 8 million dollars, with an original estimate of 5 millions dollars given. CSX appears to be balking at this amount and has suggested scaling back the project in size and scope.

Rex Huffman with the Northern
Wood County Port Authority
addresses the Henry Township
Trustees.

Township officials have been working with ODOT on what is required for connecting the overpass to SR18 at the assumed location at Liberty High Road. Evidently there are issues with SR 18 not being allowed to be raised or given any sharp curves to accommodate the overpass. During the original planning of the overpass in 2006, not much proper consideration was given to the reality of the placement, in that those original planners assumed that the overpass would be out near Rangeline Road, which would have defeated the purpose of placing the overpass closer to North Baltimore for safety vehicle access and to handle the bulk of the traffic that uses the Liberty High Road corridor for commutes. Being that Liberty High Road is where the east entry in to the intermodal will be for the trains, it is anticipated that this road will be nearly impassable without an overpass.

According to Mr. Huffman, funds are available to help offset this apparent $3 million shortfall for the overpass. He expressed the need to move quickly and was given the go-ahead by the trustees to begin looking into applying for these funds, for use in Henry Township, through the North Wood County Port Authority. Discussion was held on what other options for funds would be available. Short of CSX coming up with the funds, which they appear to be unwilling to do, due to cost overruns on property acquisitions, this looks like the best option for grants.

Also discussed was the Hough Road/West Broadway extension, with plans proceeding for that project; Deweyville Road is going to be worked on and smoothed as the weather allows, with pavement planned for in the spring.

John Davoli, who is currently the Mayor of Fostoria, visited with the trustees, telling of his running for Wood County Commissioner.