1/5/2021 Council Meeting Recap
Happy New Year! First meeting of 2021 is in the books.
We started the meeting early to interview applicants for boards and commissions.
Here is where you can view the meeting minutes. Here is where you can view the City’s synopsis of the meeting, which provides a concise and unbiased account of the meeting.
Public Hearing
6. A. 20-167 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PART TWELVE OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF HUDSON TO: (1) AMEND THE OFFICIAL ZONING DISTRICT MAP TO REZONE CERTAIN LANDS ON HUDSON DRIVE (SUMMIT COUNTY TAX PARCELS 3001315 AND 3001316) FROM DISTRICT 8, INDUSTRIAL/BUSINESS PARK, TO HIKE BIKE (HB) SENIOR HOUSING OVERLAY ZONING DISTRICT 8 AND (2) AMEND SECTION 1205.11(f)(1), “PURPOSE OF OVERLAY ZONE”, TO ACCOMMODATE THE ABOVE ZONING DISTRICT MAP AMENDMENT.
Brief Description: Consideration of proposed (1) Zoning Map Amendment to revise parcels 3001315 and 3001316 from the current District 8 Industrial/Business Park to the proposed Hike Bike (HB) Senior Housing Overlay Zoning District 8; and (2) a Land Development Code Text Amendment to amend the purpose statement of Section 1205.11(f) the Hike Bike (HB) Senior Housing Overlay Zoning District 8.
My take: I don’t have much to say on this topic. The applicant/property owner and representatives from a development company presented to Council. We then heard comments from the community, specifically residents whose properties abut the parcels seeking the zoning amendment. This item then appears later on the agenda under “Legislation.” It was on it’s second reading, so no vote occurred on this matter at the meeting.
Public Comment
One letter was read regarding our city’s budget and finances. Another constituent spoke to express concern over the safety of the Owen Brown Street railroad underpass.
My take: For everyone’s reference, the city has financial resources on the City website, which can be viewed here. Regarding the railroad underpass, we actually discussed the topic later on in the meeting, so I’ll save my comments for then. Keep reading to learn more!
Correspondence and Council Comments
Comments were made by Council members regarding the following topics: The safety of various intersections within the city; the construction on 91 and how it impacts turning onto certain streets (like Herrick Park Drive) when it is dark out, the road conditions due to the construction, and difficulty seeing northbound traffic because of concrete pipes along the road; the lack of bus shelters in the city; railroad noise due to Norfolk deliveries to Little Tikes at night; the sign at Hudson Springs Park at the sledding hill; and speeding and passing of school busses on several neighborhood roads, Victoria Parkway and Hudson Street specifically.
Report of the Manager
The issues with the utility billing was addressed by staff. Much of the confusion resulted from the billing company neglecting to adequately inform customers, specifically customers who had paperless billing, about the changes. The city will be taking extra measures to inform customers, and updating the City website with this information. The City will not be charging late fees to customers who were impacted by this change. You can learn more here, or reach out to me with any questions.
City Manager Jane Howington also gave us an update on the progress of the short term rental legislation, which will come before Council at the next workshop which is this coming Tuesday.
Discussion Items
10. A. 20-0159 City of Hudson Traffic Study - Owen Brown Street Underpass
Brief Description: The City of Hudson Administration would like to review and discuss the Downtown Phase 2 Traffic Study with City Council, regarding the recommendations for the Owen Brown Street Underpass.
My take: This project has been long overdue. For some time, it was expected that any developer who took on the Phase 2 project would shoulder much of the cost of this project, so remedying the situation was put on the back burner. Now, as we re-evaluate Phase 2, it has become apparent that this can no longer wait. A considerable amount of traffic passes through this way daily, it is estimated only a 1/3 less than on some areas of 303. When we passed the budget for 2021, we approved this project to move forward this coming year. Staff has proposed that a sidewalk go in underneath the underpass from Brentwood to Morse Road, and a 48” railing will protect the sidewalk and pedestrians underneath the underpass from traffic. Adding the sidewalk underneath will mean that only 1 car can travel under the underpass at a time (alternating traffic), so stop signs would be placed on either side of the underpass. In addition to the sidewalk and stop signs, lighting will also be installed as a safety measure, and an overhead clearance bar will be installed to prevent trucks from trying to pass and getting stuck underneath. Should it become apparent a signal is needed, we have the ability to re-evaluate the situation and install one at a later time. From a cost perspective, the proposed solution seems like the right one at this time. Staff is planning on moving forward with this in the very near future, with construction slated to happen later in 2021 (likely fall).
10. B. 20-0158 Small Business Relief Program
Brief Description: Council members will consider COVID-19 relief options for local small businesses.
My take: Staff provided many wonderful ideas for our consideration. Two that I think would benefit the community most are the implementation of free Wi-Fi, and the addition of public restrooms, both in the First and Main area. I do want to see some numbers estimating the cost associated with the upkeep of the public restrooms, as they would likely have to be managed by the city, therefore using taxpayer dollars. That being said, these two ideas focus primarily on bolstering the downtown area. I am interested in also exploring utility relief so that small businesses throughout the entire city, even ones outside of the downtown area, can receive some benefit during this difficult time. We are expected to discuss small business relief more at the next workshop.
Appointments
Council Liaisons to Boards, Commissions & Committees
The following appointments were made by Council President Bill Wooldredge:
Architectural & Historic Board of Review: Mrs. Kowalski
Board of Zoning & Building Appeals: Mr. DeSaussure, Mrs. Kowalski (alternate)
Cemetery Board: Mrs. Bigham
Community Television Advisory Committee: Mrs. Kowalski
Economic Growth Board: Mr. Wooldredge
Environmental Awareness Committee: Ms. Schlademan
Park Board: Mr. DeSaussure
Personnel Advisory & Appeals Board: Mrs. Bigham
Planning Commission: Mr. Foster
Tree Commission: Mr. Sutton
Other Assignments:
Hudson Officials for Mutual Endeavors (HOME) Committee: Mr. Wooldredge & Ms. Schlademan
Tax Incentive Review Council: Mr. Wooldredge
Volunteer Fire Fighters’ Dependents Fund Board: Mr. Foster & Mr. Sutton
(appts. by Council 12/1/2020, terms expire 12-31-2021)
Economic Development Incentive Committee Mr. Wooldredge & Mr. Foster
(appts. by Council 2/18/2020, terms expire 11-30-2021)
Appointments to the Environmental Awareness Committee (EAC):
Jack Brookhart (partial term)
Karen Farkas (full term)
Michelle Ciancio (full term)
Jack McCabe (full term)
Karen Heater (full term)
Appointment to the Community Television Advisory Committee:
Emily Lopick
Legislation
My take: We had the zoning amendment from the public hearing on it’s second reading, as I mentioned. The legislation to continue the operations of the DORA was also on it’s second reading, therefore no action was taken at this time.
This meeting was pretty long because we discussed so many important topics. If you want to watch a video of the meeting, visit this page and click on the link that reads “Video” next to the date of the meeting you are interested in. It will redirect you to a page where you can click through each agenda item so you only have to watch the section of interest to you!
Have questions? Want to share with me your thoughts on any of the agenda items or issues listed above? As always, I would love to have a conversation! Email me directly at nkowalski@hudson.oh.us.
