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By Tom Jewell
The Blade (Toledo, OH)
02-16-95
The first groundbreaking in the 816 acres annexed by Maumee is likely to be done by archaeologists' trowels.
The mayors of Maumee and Toledo might make the first ceremonial dig.
City council last week zoned the bulk of the land for business growth, along with 80 acres designated for residential use.
Council's unanimous action differed from the map sought by the city of Toledo, landowner of three-quarters of the territory. Toledo wanted a smaller residential plat and more area to market for economic development.
Toledo officials reiterated the zoning pleas made previously before council and the Maumee planning commission, which drafted the recommended zoning.
Debate in the council chamber about the future was punctuated last week by references to the area's past.
A National Park Service staff member spoke about the historical significance of some of the land now believed to be the site of the Fallen Timbers 1794 battleground.
Rory Robinson, of the rivers, trails, and conservation assistance program, referred to a site investigation report issued a year ago that found Fallen Timbers among the local areas worthy of a formal special resource study.
Funding for that project could be proposed for the 1996 federal fiscal year that starts this October, Mayor Steve Pauken said following the council session.
Meanwhile, an archaeological investigation should be undertaken locally, the mayor said. It has been suggested that Maumee, Toledo, and the Metroparks join in sponsoring the survey.
The investigation "needs to be done as soon as practicable to pinpoint the exact locations of battles," Mr. Pauken said. The remains of war - musket balls and battle gear - should still be there, he said.
The cost estimate for the work has been estimated at $32,000, he said. This could be reduced by using volunteer help, such as people with metal detectors, the mayor said.
Mr. Pauken would like to see the archaeological work start when the winter weather breaks.
Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner also proposed a survey of the territory to get a "clear delineation of the battle site" that is necessary before preparing the area east of Jerome Road.
Mayor Finkbeiner's letter said he was ready to sit down with Mayor Pauken, Metropark officials, and others interested to obtain and review proposals for the work.
The Toledo mayor also attached "one firm requirement" that the study should be comprehensive in scope and specifically look at both sides of the Anthony Wayne Trail so that "once and for all" the exact battle area can be determined.
Mayor Pauken answered that he would agree to joint discussions about commissioning the study.
The archaeological survey is not the same as the study sought from the National Park Service, the mayor explained, but it would supplement the resources study.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), in a letter dated Feb. 6, noted that concerns had been expressed about the preservation of the Fallen Timbers battlefield during a meeting of citizens involved in the Maumee Valley Heritage Corridor.
"I wanted to reiterate my belief that we continue to protect the battlefield site, conduct further archaeological investigation of the site, and continue to work with the National Park Service toward federal designation of the battlefield," Miss Kaptur wrote.
She made the point that the Battle of Fallen Timbers was an "extraordinarily significant event in our nation's history," adding that the opportunity to preserve that heritage and work with the federal agency to protect and interpret the site was available.
The victory of General Anthony Wayne's army is credited with opening territories for settlement.
Mayor Pauken said that Miss Kaptur's membership on the house appropriations committee could be a key to securing funding for the study. He plans to lobby for the project at the National Conference of Cities in Washington next month.
The investigative report, to which Mr. Robinson of the National Park Service referred, was written after a tour in October, 1993, and lays out the possible battlefield site.
It refers to Toledo's tract in the center of the battlefield with a forested section important because it is the last wooded area of the battleground.
The wooded area might provide archaeological evidence of the battle, especially since the dead were buried on the battlefield, if buried at all, the report notes.
The eastern extreme of the battlefield is interrupted by I-475 and an interchange. The abandoned railroad right of way runs along the north. It is slated for conversion to a recreational trail.
The western edge of the battlefield, where the federal army formed its line, roughly coincides with about a dozen homes along Jerome Road, according to the report.
This is part of the residential zone, homesteads on 13 acres and another 67 acres as part of a buffer with the surrounding business-development districts.
Some of the residents signed the annexation petition and favored the zoning planned by Maumee. Mayor Pauken said Toledo offered a compromise adding another 15 acres or so to the residential zone, but council did not change the planners' recommendation.
Six of seven council votes are needed to overturn or revise the planning commission.
Maumee officials point out that zoning is not carved in stone and landowners can apply for rezoning.
Mayor Pauken said the city will try to accommodate Toledo's future plans and expects developers to ask for zoning changes to suit their plans.
"If they can find a suitable development, we'll cooperate as fully as we can," he said. "Zoning is a moving target. All I can say is that it's probably going to change."
Maumee was under a six-month deadline to put permanent zoning on the June 1annexation.
Toledo and Maumee are partners in an economic development zone agreement that provides for sharing taxes gained from growth in the area.
Annexation to Maumee is a condition of the pact. The development zone will not be implemented until 75 per cent of the 1,200 acres owned by Toledo are in Maumee. This annexation moves about halfway toward the required level.
Toledo bought the Monclova Township acreage in 1987 in an attempt to annex the land itself and market it for development. The plan was opposed by Maumee and the township and failed in the vote of court rulings.
Maumee and Toledo settled on the joint development venture four years ago.
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