Toledo City Council to vote on sale of Triad Business Park property for potential development

​By: Tim Schneider, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce

​At its regular meeting scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on August 20, Toledo City Council is expected to vote on Ordinance 395-19 which would authorize sale of more than 50 acres in the Triad Business Park located in the Maumee-Monclova-Toledo Joint Economic Development Zone. Midland Agency of Northwest Ohio, Inc. would purchase the site for $1,050,000 on behalf of an anonymous Michigan-based company considering relocation of its headquarters, fulfillment, and manufacturing operations. The prospective company could invest $28 million to construct an up to 225,000 square foot facility and employ as many as 200 individuals should the site ultimately be selected.

Council is also expected to vote on the following:

• Ordinance 396-19 which would approve the city’s request for a zone change to limited industrial for the site of the former Southwyck Mall at 2040 South Reynolds Road. The city intends to market the property for wholesale storage and distribution facility use.
• Ordinance 397-19 which would approve Torrey Hill Apartment’s request for a zone change to mixed commercial and residential for the site of the former Continental Baking Company facility at 1119 North Summit Street. The change would facilitate redevelopment of the property as apartments and commercial space.

Council is expected to give first reading to two ordinances regarding lead-safe housing. Council’s Finance & Debt Oversight Committee and Neighborhoods, Community Development & Health Committee will hold a joint hearing on the topic on August 21 at 1:30 p.m., which will likely include discussion on both measures:

• Ordinance 381-19 which would repeal the city’s lead-safe housing law and enact a new law. The new law would designate the city’s Department of Neighborhoods & Business Development, instead of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, as the agency implementing and enforcing the program. It would also expand residential rental properties included in enforcement to those with one or more units, instead of only those with up to four units.
• Ordinance 382-19 which would approve $75,000 to create the position of Assistant City Auditor to support the lead-safe program. The position would be responsible for seeking and monitoring grants to provide funding for a “lead conference”, lead test kits, education, and marketing.
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​Council is also expected to give first reading to Ordinance 392-19 which would authorize various adjustments to the current year’s approved city budget. Notable adjustments to budget estimates include the following:

• Decreasing traffic enforcement camera revenue by $2 million due to “revenue trends”.
• Increasing monthly recycling expenses by $1.3 million due to increased costs.
• Decreasing workers’ compensation expenditures by $3.9 million due to state rebates.
• Increasing state fuel tax revenue by $2.5 million due to the recent increase in the tax.
• Eliminating the budgeted $3,537,000 transfer from the capital improvement program budget to the general fund budget.

All Council meetings, including committee hearings, are held in Council Chambers on the first floor of One Government Center located on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Toledo.

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​Tim Schneider
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​As Manager for Local Government Advocacy, Tim Schneider advocates for local policies and laws that safeguard and foster a pro-business environment in the Toledo Region. Tim has more than 10 years of legislative and public policy experience with the local, state and federal levels of government.