Tucked in the quiet southwest section of Wood County, two businesses are trying to expand. On Tuesday,
the Wood County Planning Commission recommended zoning changes for both ? paving the way for an agronomy
center and an expanded stone quarry.
Both zoning requests involve acreage in Milton Township, an area of the county where few zoning changes
are requested.
Deshler Farmers? Elevator Co. has asked that nearly 20 acres be changed from agricultural to industrial
zoning, on the east side of Custar Road, just north of the village of Custar. The zoning change would
allow the business to build an agronomy center, which would be used for mixing fertilizer and retail
business.
Milton Township zoning official Dan Wensink said the elevator is planning to knock down the existing
agronomy center at the nearby elevator and erect more grain bins there.
Though the planning commission members supported the proposal, there were some concerns about rezoning
the property as industrial, since that would allow for a variety of other uses.
?If it does get zoned industrial, any industrial use can occur there,? said Dave Steiner, director of the
county planning commission.
However Steiner also pointed out that industrial zoning in some ways gives local officials more control
than the existing zoning.
?You do have more restrictions than if it?s zoned agricultural,? he said.
Wood County Engineer Ray Huber also expressed concerns about increased truck traffic on Custar Road for
the new agronomy center. Wensink said he believed most of the fertilizer would come to the site by rail,
which is located right next to the property.
The county planning commission voted to recommend the zoning change, with the final decision to be made
by the Milton Township Trustees.
The commission also supported a request from Custar Stone Co. to change approximately 60 acres from
agricultural to industrial zoning. The acreage is located on the north side of Portage Road, east of the
Henry County line, next to the existing stone quarry there. The company purchased the property in March
with plans to expand the quarry.
The limestone mining and processing operation has been located there since at least the 1940s. The new
property will be used for mining operations, while the crushing, screening, stockpiling and office
functions will remain at their present locations.
The stone company last expanded in 2007 after 94 acres were changed from agricultural to industrial
zoning.