Bowling Green Moves Forward with City Annexations
The City of Bowling Green is actively moving ahead with its plans to expand the city limits through ongoing land annexations in Warren County. These efforts are leading to significant changes in the city’s landscape and its economic development strategy.
Focus on the Lovers Lane Corridor
Brent Childers, the director of Neighborhood and Community Services, is at the forefront of these efforts. One of the key areas targeted for annexation is the Lovers Lane corridor. Recently, the city took an important step by approving the annexation of 3.041 acres that are owned by Kevin and Lynn Kirby. With this recent annexation, Childers stressed that the city has successfully brought several properties into the fold over the last few years, leaving only a handful outside the city limits.
“We got several properties in that area over the last several years to come in,” said Childers. “There’s only a few still remaining outside of the city limits.” This continued growth in the Lovers Lane corridor illustrates the city’s commitment to enhancing the area.
Economic Development Incentives
The newly annexed property qualifies for Bowling Green’s Economic Development Annexation Incentive Policy, which was put into place back in October 2012. This policy aims to boost economic development in newly annexed areas, particularly those that are likely to create jobs.
City Manager Jeff Meisel explained how the incentives work: “The incentive entails five years of rebate on property tax, and that can wait up to 10 years before it starts so that the property owner can maximize any development that goes on that property.” Since the implementation of this policy, the area of Bowling Green has grown considerably, from 38.5 to 42.5 square miles, adding over 2,500 acres.
Developments Along Lovers Lane
Various targeted locations, such as Lovers Lane, Glen Lily Road, Veterans Memorial Lane, and areas adjacent to Interstates 65 and 165, are part of this expansion plan. One announced development, The Hub, demonstrates the types of projects aimed at job creation. This mixed-use site, which spans 101 acres, features a hotel, a bank, a restaurant, and numerous residential units. The land for The Hub was annexed in 2018 and was previously the farm of Dr. Roy Cooksey.
Consensual Approach to Annexation
Childers pointed out that all of the annexations have been consensual, meaning property owners have agreed to bring their land into the city limits. “All of these have been consensual annexations where the property owner is agreeing to bring the property into the city limits,” he noted, underscoring that the city is not forcing these changes.
The Benefits of Being Inside City Limits
Once an area is annexed, it gains access to the accredited services provided by the Bowling Green Police and Fire Departments. This usually leads to lower insurance rates for businesses operating within city limits, an appealing prospect for many property owners considering annexation. An example of successful annexations is the Kentucky Transpark, where a substantial amount of property has been brought into the city.
“We’ve annexed a tremendous amount of property out there,” Childers explained, noting the job benefits that come from these expansions. He mentioned that the growth in the occupational tax revenue from these businesses helps support essential services like the newly built fire station.
Future Focus on Economic Expansion
Looking ahead, Childers noted that while the city is primarily focusing on annexations that can help drive economic growth, there has been a conscious effort to avoid annexing residential neighborhoods. “Neighborhoods aren’t job creators in the sense of long-term job benefits in that area,” he said.
As Bowling Green continues to expand its limits through annexations aimed at economic growth, community members can expect to see ongoing changes that may shape the local economy for years to come.
