Cities Civil and Municipal November 2024

Perkins Township, Ohio – Erie County

November 26, 2024

Perkins Township, Ohio

A Thriving Community Balancing Growth and Quality of Life

Strategically fostering growth while maintaining a high quality of life for its residents.

Perkins Township, located in Erie County, Ohio, is more than a geographic midpoint. Home to nearly 13,000 residents and around 800 businesses, the township occupies a unique position as a commercial hub.

“We act as a central shopping area for a multi-county region,” says Township Administrator Gary Boyle, highlighting how the township’s large retail sector, which includes big-box stores, serves both locals and visitors from surrounding rural areas. Positioned as a gateway to significant attractions like Cedar Point and the Lake Erie islands, the area sees nearly 11 million visitors annually. “Many of them pass through our community on their way to these attractions,” Boyle adds, emphasizing how the steady influx of tourists benefits local businesses.

Its prime location along major transportation routes supports the township’s commercial success. U.S. Route 250, a critical connector to Columbus, runs through the heart of Perkins, as do the Ohio Turnpike and State Route 2.

“We have great road access in every direction—east, west, north, and south,” Boyle notes. These highways facilitate commercial traffic and keep residential areas well-buffered from potential friction with business zones. “Our neighborhoods, large and small, are mostly positioned away from the major commercial development, which helps avoid the usual land-use conflicts,” Boyle explains, underlining how careful planning has allowed the township to grow without sacrificing the quality of life for its residents.

Beyond its retail and residential offerings, Perkins boasts a wide range of industries, including a significant presence in the healthcare sector. Boyle describes the growing “medical corridor” along State Road 4, where a regional medical center and several specialized practices have taken root.

“We have a fairly significant medical industry within the community,” he says, noting that a new multi-story building recently went up, reinforcing the township’s status as a healthcare hub for the county. The area also has several critical public institutions, including one of Ohio’s two state veterans’ homes and various county facilities like the sheriff’s office and jail.

Open for Business

Perkins Township has embraced a proactive strategy for attracting business and fostering growth. In recent years, the township has shifted its focus towards creating an environment where businesses can thrive, leveraging its prime location and supportive infrastructure. Township Administrator Boyle describes it succinctly: “We’ve gone out of our way to be a community open for business. It’s not just a phrase—it’s a mindset our elected officials and staff live by.”

Boyle explains that this “open for business” mentality extends across all departments, from public safety to community development. “Our team works collectively to ensure we provide the best, most cost-effective services possible,” he says. This approach has positioned Perkins Township as a hotspot for potential retail growth, particularly along Milan Avenue, its central commercial corridor. Several properties along this stretch are primed for development, but further road access is needed. “We’re willing to use tax increment financing (TIF) to help build public roads and utilities to service these areas,” Boyle confirms, signaling that the township is not just waiting for business but actively laying the groundwork to attract it.

Incentives like TIF districts have played a crucial role in accelerating development. Trustee Timothy Coleman highlights recent changes in the Ohio Revised Code that have made the process more efficient for the township. “We can expedite the TIF process now, without having to go through additional layers of red tape,” he points out, which has already paid dividends for one of the county’s largest recent projects—a data center by Aligned Data Centers. The new center, being constructed on the site of a former GM plant, will consist of four units, each spanning over 500,000 square feet. “It’s providing a lot of labor, especially union jobs,” Coleman adds.

Growth is evident around the township and has led to the close relationship between the township and Aligned who chose to build its data center campus in the region. Aligned made this choice based on the recognition that Perkins Township emergence as a growing technology hub, its geographically strategic position in relation to other tech hubs, the presence of a number of cloud, social media, and technology companies that now have deep stakes in the region, reliable power (the selected property was home to a former automotive equipment manufacturing facility) as well as the the Township’s lower incidence of natural disasters.

The Aligned’s project in Perkins Township is a sustainable brownfield redevelopment. The Township reports that the project is going well. Recently, Aligned reached a significant milestone with the erection of the first columns at the construction site, marking the beginning of vertical construction.

Perkins Township has played the role of a welcoming and supportive partner in the development of the data center project. The township has recognized the economic benefits that Aligned’s data center will bring to the region, including job creation and increased tax revenue. The Township has also been supportive of the Company’s efforts to engage with and support the local community. Aligned has also received a warm reception and support from the people of Perkins Township. Aligned has voiced that Perkins Township is a wonderful community to be a part of and continues to be excited about establishing a long-term presence in the region.

Addressing Housing Challenges and Opportunities

Like many communities nationwide, Perkins Township faces housing demand challenges, especially when creating a balance between new single-family homes and affordable options.

Trustee Coleman explains, “Many private developers are still building single homes, but realtors are telling us they need more units.” The township recently added 260 rental units across two new apartment complexes, which has helped alleviate some pressure. However, affordable housing remains a priority, particularly for seniors and those with limited income. “We’re doing everything we can to open up opportunities,” he adds, indicating ongoing efforts to address these issues.

Boyle adds that Perkins Township has approximately 5,300 housing units, most owner-occupied.

“Our rental market is probably around 30 percent,” he estimates, reflecting a relatively stable housing environment but also emphasizing the need for diverse housing options. Affordable housing, Boyle notes, is not just a local issue but a national one. Interest rates, economic conditions, and aging residents choosing to stay in their homes longer all limit housing availability.

“New construction has been slow,” he admits, “but with our quality of life and location, I think we’re well positioned to attract future development as housing demand pushes west from Cleveland.”

One discussed strategy is revisiting zoning laws for smaller, more affordable units. “We’ve had meetings with Serving Our Seniors to explore affordable housing options,” Coleman shares. By potentially adjusting zoning regulations, the township could create more opportunities for developments that cater to a broader range of income levels.

The township’s affordable cost of living is another factor that helps in this regard. “People moving here from Cleveland are often pleasantly surprised by how much they can save,” Coleman says. He points out that some residents who initially relocated for the township’s quality of life found that the financial benefits were an unexpected bonus.

Recreation and Community Engagement

Perkins Township’s parks and recreation facilities enhance community engagement and quality of life for its residents. With 12 parks strategically located across its residential areas, the township offers a range of spaces for outdoor activities and events. Boyle highlights Strickfaden Park as the township’s largest park and a key focal point for the community.

“We developed it over the last ten years, including a pavilion that accommodates up to 300 people, and it’s booked solid for events like graduations and weddings,” he shares. This park has become an informal gathering space, hosting various community events year-round.

The township also invests in large-scale seasonal events that attract thousands of attendees. “Last year, we expanded our Santa arrival event into a full Winter Fest with a Christmas market, featuring 50 vendors,” Boyle says. The turnout exceeded expectations, with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people attending on the first night. Given its success, the township is shifting the event to a Saturday this year to accommodate even more visitors. “We’re hoping for an even bigger crowd this December,” he adds.

Youth sports and recreational activities have also seen significant growth, with the township taking its programs to new heights. “We used to struggle to get 100 kids for youth baseball, but now, thanks to a privately owned sports center in the community, we had 420 kids last year,” Boyle explains. The township also launched a 6U baseball league this fall, which has been met with great success. Collaborating with the local school district has helped bolster these efforts, as the schools disseminate information about the township’s recreational programs, ensuring wide community participation.

Perkins Township’s seniors’ initiatives are another key focus. “We host a senior health fair, offer chair yoga, and run monthly bingo events,” Boyle says. The township continues to create opportunities for seniors to engage with local service providers, network with peers, and enjoy social activities. On the youth side, the township partners with the school district to solve practical issues, such as providing additional gym space for middle school sports teams. “We’ve partnered with them to rent basketball and volleyball courts,” Boyle notes, highlighting the township’s collaborative approach to maximizing resources and ensuring the needs of all residents are met.

Strategic Leadership and Community Collaboration

Perkins Township’s leadership places a strong emphasis on practicality and forward-thinking. Trustee Coleman notes that the key to sound management lies in common sense. “Sometimes people get wild ideas, but common sense is where we start,” he explains. For him, understanding the township’s strengths and weaknesses through SWOT analysis helps guide short- and long-term planning. Collaborating with state and local governments, including the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the township seeks grants and other resources to minimize costs for taxpayers while continuing to enhance the area’s appeal. “We’re trying to make Perkins Township a place to live, work, and play,” he adds.

Boyle supports this perspective, emphasizing that collaboration and strategic planning are foundational. “We recently updated our comprehensive plan, which involved significant community input,” he says. This plan outlines how and where development should occur, ensuring that public and private investments align with community goals.

In addition to the comprehensive plan, Boyle points to a strategic plan completed two years ago, which gathered extensive feedback from residents and businesses. “Overwhelmingly, people were happy with the services we provide,” Boyle notes, though he acknowledges the challenge of continuing to fund these services in the face of reduced state funding. As a township reliant on property taxes rather than income taxes, the community’s support through levies has been critical.

Levy support in Perkins Township has been notably strong, with most passing by a 70% or higher margin. Coleman attributes this to residents’ high level of trust in their local government. “We were pleasantly surprised by the positive feedback we received during the strategic planning process,” he recalls. This consistent support enables the township to fund essential services like police, fire, and road paving—services crucial to maintaining residents’ quality of life.

Boyle adds that this success is also due to hiring employees with a service-oriented mindset. “We’ve done a good job of bringing in people who are committed to serving the public and providing the best services possible,” he explains, highlighting the township’s focus on teamwork and efficiency.

Priorities for the Next 18 Months

As Perkins Township enters the next year and a half, safety services and infrastructure improvements are top priorities. Trustee Coleman outlines a critical project: constructing a new fire station. “We’re combining two existing stations into one, and we’ve done extensive research to identify the best location for it,” he says. The growing demand for emergency services drives the project. “The need for police and fire protection, especially along the Route 250 corridor, has grown exponentially in the past 20 years,” he notes.

Boyle shares Coleman’s priorities while also looking at broader opportunities for regional collaboration. He points to continued partnerships with the Greater Sandusky Partnership, which helps advocate for state and federal support for the region. “We hope to continue working with regional partners to attract investments,” Boyle says, emphasizing the role of collaboration in advancing the township’s goals. He is particularly optimistic about future development around the NASA Glenn Research Center’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility. “We see growth potential on NASA-owned land outside their security fencing, and we sit on various boards that focus on fostering that growth.”

This focus on strategic partnerships extends beyond infrastructure and into quality-of-life improvements, with Boyle hopeful that the township will maintain the strong community support it has historically received. “We’re grateful for the backing we’ve had from our residents, and we plan to keep working collaboratively to ensure that our services meet their expectations,” he adds, signaling that maintaining Perkins Township’s high standards remains a central goal in the months ahead.