Despite pleas in opposition that included a scripture from the Bible about wisdom, the City-County Planning Commission voted Thursday to recommend a planned commercial-residential development along Fairview Avenue where two buildings will be 40 feet tall.

The proposal now goes before the Bowling Green City Commission.

Construction Design Management LLC, which consists of Luke, Matthew and Zachary Williams of Bowling Green, requested rezoning about 2.49 acres at 1125, 1129, 1133 and 1143 Fairview Ave., plus 601 Greenlawn Ave. and 604 Meadowlawn Ave., from single-family residential to highway business.

“The buildings are beautiful buildings – just find some place else to build them,” said the Rev. James Britt, a resident of Meadowlawn Avenue for 50 years.

“Nobody asked us as neighbors if this would be done,” Britt said, at one point quoting Proverbs 1:20-21:”Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech.”

Britt said the development could benefit another part of the city.

Charlotte Smith, also a Meadowlawn resident, said the street is the best to live on in Bowling Green.

“Our street is delightful and quiet. This proposal changes everything,” Smith said.

The nearly 50 people in opposition in the audience saw an artist’s rendering of the buildings and a closeup of one to the two buildings showing more detail. Commercial and office use is planned for the first floor, with residential above. A coffee shop and a ice cream shop have been mentioned as possible commercial tenants.

Binding elements approved Thursday stipulate that no commercial tenant shall occupy any space in excess of 7,000 square feet. The proposal was brought before the planning commission in September and not recommended. Attorney David Broderick said the revamped proposal takes away initial concerns about a rooftop gathering area in the first version, as well as height concerns.

The developers are also putting in a six- to eight-foot privacy fence along rear property owners.

In another matter, the planning commission recommended to the city commission rezoning 1.1347 acres at 515 and 529 Chestnut Street and along East 6th Avenue from general business to planned-unit development. 

Douglas Gorman, Norman Burks and Rogers Real Estate Holdings LLC plan a three-story commercial office development with a maximum of 40 multi-family units and a maximum of 10,000 square feet of commercial office space within the Tax Increment Financing district in downtown Bowling Green.

The planning commission also voted to recommend to the Warren County Fiscal Court a development to bring a maximum of 129 residential units off Twin Bridges Road. Robert Burr and Bennie and Laura Jones requested rezoning of about 73 acres at 9055 Twin Bridges Road and Brawner Road.

There will be no subdivision access to Brawner Road, according to a binding element.

— Follow business reporter Charles A. Mason on Twitter @BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.