Hudson Planning Commission Meeting – April 11, 2022

The Hudson Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Monday, April 11, 2022, at 7:30 PM in Town Hall, 27 East Main Street. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, a public hearing for a conditional use request by Seton Catholic School, introduction of amendments to the Planning Commission Administrative Rules, and a staff update. The meeting adjourned at 8:16 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (February 14, 2022): Approved unanimously (5‑0) without discussion.

Public Hearings

• PC 2022‑206 – Seton Catholic School Conditional Use Request: The applicant proposes a parking lot expansion (27 additional spaces), an outdoor chapel worship space, an outdoor classroom amphitheater, and relocation of the trash enclosure at 6923 Stow Road (zoned Outer Village Residential Neighborhood).
  • Staff Presentation: City Planner Nicholas Sugar introduced the project, noting it meets conditional‑use standards, parking setbacks, impervious surface limits, and stormwater requirements. One code item required a 748‑square‑foot interior parking lot landscape island to comply with Section 1207.04; existing buffering (mounding, trees) was already in place. Staff recommended four conditions: (1) parking lot lighting not exceed 16 ft height, (2) additional interior landscaping, (3) building design subject to Architectural & Historic Board of Review approval, and (4) compliance with Assistant City Engineer Nate Wonsick’s April 5 comments.
  • Applicant Presentation: Rich Yanusaitis (Kaczmar Architects, 4865 Lake Road, Sheffield Lake) displayed site plans and renderings. The chapel structure will match the school’s brick/masonry character; the outdoor amphitheater will reuse excavated topsoil to extend an existing landscape mound to the north.
  • Commission Discussion: Commissioners commended the design and site placement. Questions addressed: existing trash enclosure relocation, interior parking lot landscaping requirements, the south‑side mounding gap, playground equipment relocation, and stormwater detention. A commissioner noted the proposed mounding could be extended south but the applicant explained it would disrupt existing landscaping and tree roots. Commissioner Norman expressed concern about requiring interior landscaping in a parking lot that is mostly screened; however, the commission did not modify that condition.
  • Public Comment: No public comments were offered.
  • Motion and Vote: Mr. Lehman moved to approve the conditional use with the four staff‑recommended conditions; Mr. Nystrom seconded. The motion carried unanimously (5‑0).

Other Business

• Amendment to Planning Commission Administrative Rules: Staff presented a first‑reading of administrative rule updates to align with recent City Charter changes. Key proposed changes include: shortening the application submission window from five weeks to four weeks, updating references to text/map amendments, and correcting editorial items (e.g., “MPC clerk” to “PC clerk”, meeting room designation).
  • Discussion: Commissioner Vaughn sought clarification on charter‑driven changes (e.g., comprehensive plan update cycle changed from 5 to 10 years). Commissioner Norman questioned the reduction from five to four weeks for public notice, noting it could shorten the time neighbors have to learn of applications. City Planner Sugar explained the four‑week window has been used administratively for some time and still meets statutory notice requirements; staff agreed to research the origin of the five‑week requirement for the next meeting. The solicitor’s review is pending.
  • Action: No vote was taken; the matter will return for a second reading at the next meeting.

Staff Update

• City Planner Sugar introduced newly appointed Planning Commission member Andrew Furbee, who will attend training and join the commission formally next month. He also noted that pre‑application meetings are occurring frequently (one or two per week) but few formal applications have been filed recently.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of Minutes (February 14, 2022): Approved 5‑0.
• Conditional Use Approval – Seton Catholic School (Case 22‑206): Approved 5‑0 with four conditions (lighting height, interior landscaping, AHBR review, engineer comments). The school may proceed with the parking lot expansion, outdoor chapel, and classroom pavilion, subject to compliance with those conditions.
• Administrative Rules Amendment: Introduced and discussed; no vote taken. Second reading scheduled for the May 9, 2022 meeting. Staff will provide additional information on the public notice period history.
• Meeting Adjourned: 8:16 PM.