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By Steve Murphy
The Blade (Toledo, OH)
01-17-95
Maumee council has delayed action on a request to rezone 67 acres of Toledo-owned land for commercial and light industrial use.
Putting off a vote for at least two weeks, council last night cited concerns over the possible historic nature of the site along Jerome Road. Some historians believe the area includes the site of the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794.
Maumee planners have recommended that the land - part of an 816-acre tract annexed from Monclova Township - be rezoned for residential use.
But Toledo, under a 1992 tax-sharing agreement with Maumee, wants to use the site as part of a planned business park.
Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner and Walt Edelen, executive director of the Toledo-Lucas County plan commissions, pleaded Toledo's case before the Maumee lawmakers last night, saying the site was crucial to regional economic development.
"The two most valuable pieces of land in that economic development effort...one is the Golden Triangle in Rossford and Perrysburg Township, the second is the property being discussed tonight," Mr. Finkbeiner said.
Mr. Edelen said Maumee could add housing elsewhere, and that zoning the area residential would not bring the suburb any revenue under its Joint Economic Development Zone agreement with Toledo.
"Residential areas don't make you money, they cost you money," Mr. Edelen said.
But council appeared swayed by Jerome Road residents who spoke against zoning the area for business, and by Dr. G. Michael Pratt, an associate professor of anthropology at Heidelberg College.
Dr. Pratt said the National Park Service is studying the Fallen Timbers site, along with nearby Fort Meigs and Fort Miamis, for possible development as a national park.
"I believe that any kind of large-scale development out there...would probably preclude park service interest," Dr. Pratt said.
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