An architect's rendering of "The Landing", a 15.49-acre area near the Old Richardsville Road bridge that business partners Patrick Reynolds and Kelley Coleman plan to transform into a outdoor recreation area with an amphitheater.

Major riverfront developments dreamed up by Beech Holdings, LLC partners Kelley Coleman and Patrick Reynolds jumped through another big hoop Tuesday.

The necessary rezonings for the pair’s “The Launch” and “The Landing” projects were OK’d unanimously by the Bowling Green Board of Commissioners, clearing the way for change on Barren River.

“The Landing,” located north of the city on land that used to accommodate the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1298 building, is planned as an outdoor recreation space to feature an amphitheater.

“The Launch” takes up close to six acres of land on East Riverview Drive and the intersection of College Street and East Second Avenue. Proposed amenities include retail, restaurant and bar space, multi-family housing, a distillery/tasting area and rooftop terrace.

According to documents submitted to the City County Planning Commission, the developers will preserve, remodel and utilize, “to the extent feasible,” the J.E. Bohannon Co. tobacco warehouse as part of the development.

Commissioner Carlos Bailey said he had received concerns from citizens about the development’s proximity to the Shake Rag Historic District, wanting to know if the project will affect historic landmarks.

“I don’t know of any direct impacts,” said Sarah Hurt, a staffer of the Planning and Zoning Commission. “But I would imagine as the property is redeveloped that it will hopefully invite more people to that part of downtown, in hopes of restoring and rehabilitating some of those older buildings.”

Hurt said there aren’t any homes in the block that will be developed. Any future developments that would impact housing would have to go through the permit approval process.

While not set in stone, Hurt said the developers have expressed interest in making improvements to College Street since the project spans both sides of the road. This may include burying utilities and widening sidewalks.

Commissioner Dana Beasley-Brown wanted to know if there will be enough vantage points of the river for citizens.

“I just want to make sure, this one shot we’ve got, we’re taking advantage of it,” she said.

Hurt said there are plans for rooftop spaces to allow visitors to view the river from higher up. Up to 70,000 square feet of public space exists in each of the two concepts that were submitted.

“I’m excited about it as this is a private development,” Commissioner Sue Parrigin said. “That our private citizens see the value in this riverfront and how that might be a return on their investment for the future of Bowling Green.”

The board also approved the first reading of the city’s FY 2024 budget, which includes $2 million in future funding for phase II of the city’s 70-acre riverfront park project.

Chief Financial Officer Katie Schaller-Ward said design firm MKSK is being tasked with a public participation process to get the residents of Bowling Green involved in the park’s development.

That process kicks off this weekend. The city will have a table at Saturday’s Eats & Beats Music Fest at Circus Square Park to provide details and take in community feedback.

“It won’t just be us deciding what goes in and what doesn’t,” Schaller-Ward said. “There’s going to be a lot of interaction and a lot of different ways for the public to participate.”

The commissioners approved a $180,000 change order for the city’s upcoming public safety training center on Porter Pike.

City Manager Jeff Meisel said he took full responsibility for the expense, which stemmed from multiple design changes on the project.

Meisel said when he first looked at the training center designs in January 2022, “the tornado was heavily on my mind.” The city asked architecture firm Brandstetter Carroll Inc. if the building could be storm-rated, even though the pair had already agreed on a contract for design services.

“I’ll take full responsibility for this additional $180,000, but it was definitely earned by Brandstetter Carroll,” Meisel said. “They did everything we asked them to do multiple times.”

The commissioners also gave approval to the Bowling Green Police Department’s retired officer program. According to a city memo, BGPD is requesting that five of its vacancies be filled with retired officers.

The program is open to officers who have retired in good standing from the BGPD. Participants will sign one-year contracts that can be renewed with approval from both the employee and police administration.

“There’s going to be a lot of great benefits in bringing back some of that knowledge and expertise to our department, so we’re really excited,” said Erin Hulsey, Bowling Green’s director of human resources.

Also Tuesday:

•The city is submitting a $336,391 grant application to the Kentucky Fire Commission Training Facility Grant Program to buy a new live-fire training unit for the Bowling Green Fire Department.

•Commissioners approved a $2.3 million bid to Intech Contracting LLC for College Street pedestrian bridge rehabilitation. The city received $1.6 million in Transportation Alternatives Program Grant Funding earlier this year for cap repair, base encasement, upper bracing and decking repairs, lighting additions and removal of lead paint.

The board will convene again June 20.