Tentative draft for Hudson comprehensive plan for future development presented to Council
Hudson residents' wish list for future development includes a mix of commercial and residential space downtown and along the south state Route 91 corridor as well as streetscape enhancements and a distinct gateway into the city on its south side.
The suggestions were part of a report presented by the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee during Hudson City Council's Tuesday meeting.
The committee sought feedback over the summer from the city's nearly 23,000 residents on Hudson's roadmap for development. Rebecca B. Leiter, the committee chair, said 614 households completed surveys, surpassing the goal of 400.
"The survey showed that 94% had an opinion are 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the overall quality of life in Hudson," Leiter said.
What did the residents say?
Residents were asked to select three things they felt were the most significant challenges facing Hudson. The top responses were: traffic (53%), housing affordability (37%), infrastructure conditions (36%), and variety of housing options (33%).
Jessie Obert, the co-chair of the committee, said greenspace and safety weighed on residents' minds.
Residents were also asked to rate the city’s growth in various areas. Among respondents:
58% rated industrial growth as “just right,” and 57% rated residential growth as “just right.”
44% rated growth of commercial/restaurants as “much too slow” or “too slow.”
50% said they want “far more” or “more” dine-in and carryout restaurants in the future
The survey also gauged sentiments about a community center or a recreation facility. Among respondents, 54% said they would use an outdoor pool at least a few times a month if it was included in a community/recreation center.
Other amenities that residents indicated they would use at least a few times a month include an indoor pool (53%), fitness studio/classes (53%), weight equipment/training (50%) and an indoor track (42%).
Concerns brought up about recreation center ideas
Ward 3 Councilman Skylar Sutton commended the depth of the survey, adding he felt the overall ideas were on the right track. He said he has concerns, however, about the ideas for a community center or recreation center.
According to a memo sent to Council on Nov. 21, the committee has been mulling the idea of either a single facility or two facilities with one to focus on recreation and another to focus on community arts and programming. Possible site locations include city-owned downtown acreage and the state Route 91 corridor between Stoney Hill and Barlow Road.
Sutton said the proposal could conflict with the city's other priorities for Phase II of its developmental plan. "I'm not against a community center, but I think the plans are too specific — and it could bottle us in."
Council President Chris Foster said the process has gone longer than expected and has been "very tense at certain periods."
In July 2022, City Council voted 6-0 to repeal legislation that would have put Fairmount Properties LLC. Fairmount at the lead of Phase II — envisioning town homes and cluster homes with minimum price tags of $325,000 and construction of a 40,000-square-foot Heinen's grocery store.
The city of Hudson had also been a defendant in a civil suit seeking reimbursement to Testa Enterprises Inc. of Cuyahoga Falls for that company's design work as the original developer on Phase II. Testa later dropped the suit.
Ultimately, the city will need to balance how much growth it wanted in what time frame, Foster said.
"People have consistently said they didn't want Hudson to stagnate, but they also didn't want to see Hudson grow so rapidly it lost its character," Foster said.
Committee says YDC property plans should wait
The committee also advised the city to hold off on any plans to transform the former Youth Development Center property until the growing Seasons Road Corridor reaches its full potential.
The committee recommended leaving the city's 90 developable acres at the YDC site "as vacant green space for the foreseeable future," according to the Nov. 21 memo.
The Seasons Road corridor would "not be mapped out to the level of detail of a 'focus area' but should be highlighted on the overall land use map as a priority area for building out industrialuse," according to the memo. The city should "fill Seasons Corridor before considering industrial development in new areas like YDC."
The committee will meet Dec. 13 to review the full draft of its proposal. A community workshop is scheduled for Jan. 31 at the Hudson High School Media Center, at a time to be determined.
For details on the plan and the survey, visit https://letstalk.hudson.oh.us/comprehensive-plan online.
April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Recreation center, future developments considered for Hudson's future
