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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Hudson Planning Commission Meeting - February 12, 2024

Planning Commission — Monday, February 12, 2024

BodyHudson, Ohio

SessionPlanning Commission

DateMonday, February 12, 2024

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:25:39

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Good evening.

0:01

I'd like to call to order the City of Hudson Planning Commission meeting for Monday, May February 12th, 2024 at 7 30 p.m.

0:10

Mr.

0:11

Sugar, would you please call the roll?

0:14

Ms.

0:14

Norman.

0:15

Here.

0:17

Ms.

0:18

Jones.

0:19

Here.

0:20

Mr.

0:20

Stoley?

0:22

Mr.

0:22

Vaughan?

0:23

Here.

0:24

Mr.

0:24

Nystrom.

0:25

Here.

0:27

Seeing we do have a quorum, we can proceed with tonight's meeting.

0:32

Next, for anyone, including staff wishing to address the commission during tonight's meeting.

0:37

Could you please stand and raise your right hand?

0:44

Do you swear or affirm under the penalty of perjury that the testimony you give tonight will be the truth?

0:50

If so, please say I do.

0:54

When addressing the commission, please come to the podium, speak into the microphone as this meeting is being recorded, and begin by stating your name and provide your street address.

1:05

Next item on the agenda would be correspondence.

1:08

I'd like to ask staff and commission members to please disclose any outside correspondence received since our last meeting.

1:18

Seeing none, we can proceed to public discussion.

1:24

This is the time for anyone who would like to address the commission on topics not listed with uh within tonight's agenda.

1:32

Mr.

1:32

Chair, I'd like to make a statement.

1:34

Umcerning last month's commission vote for a change in leadership.

1:40

Um I in fact favor the concept of periodic refreshing of all organizations' leadership as mentioned in the short discussion by Ms.

1:53

Jones and Mr.

1:54

Romano.

1:55

Accordingly, later this evening, I'll offer a motion to amend this commission's administrative rules to establish term limits for commission officers.

2:05

Um I thought it appropriate also to take this moment to express my sincere gratitude to the staff and my fellow commissioners for the support council and cooperation extended to me while I served as chair.

2:19

We consistently showed respect to all who came before the commission.

2:23

We operated with decorum and in an even-handed business like manner.

2:28

No one was ever denied a right to express themselves.

2:34

I trust that will remain the commission's approach under Mr.

2:37

Nidstrom's fine leadership.

2:39

Um I look forward to more participation in the commission's proceedings as I no longer will be constrained by the responsibilities of being chair.

2:53

What motivated me eight years ago to seek appointment to the planning commission remains unchanged.

2:59

I'm committed to giving back to my hometown a community that has been very good to me, my family, and countless others.

3:06

We're so fortunate to be residents of this exceptional community, but we must be ever vigilant to maintain the charm and character that defines Hudson.

3:17

To that end, I'd like to relate a quick cautionary story that really has motivated me over the years.

3:27

I was raised on Chicago's far northwest side in a community known as Norwood Park.

3:33

Norwood was an independent village first established in 1833.

3:38

The Central Business District was very similar to Hudson's.

3:50

Norwood remained a residential community graced by large and historic homes and beautiful tree-lined streets.

4:04

In fact, the local journalists then described the area as being a place of ideal living.

4:11

That trusted journalist, who is named Ed Shaw, was elected board councilman in 1963.

4:20

Shortly thereafter, things began to change.

4:24

Apartment and commercial buildings started to spring up along Norwood's main corridors, destroying much of the ideal character of the community.

4:34

Only later did residents learn of Councilman Scholl's behind the scenes collusion with developers and other city officials to manipulate zoning standards.

4:52

But in his second year in the Senate, he was indicted and convicted in federal court for his shenanigans while a councilman.

5:01

He ended up in federal penitentiary.

5:04

But the lesson, the damage he inflicted on Norwood Park continues to haunt the community to this day.

5:12

The lesson for me and hopefully for this commission is we serve as a watchdog protecting Hudson's future against unscrupulous, the unscrupulous and the corrupt.

5:25

Our unwavering vigilance is essential to safeguard what we value.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parks and Recreation████████████████████████████████32%

Public Engagement█████████████████17%

Procedural███████████████15%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████9%

Planned Development████████8%

Miscellaneous█████5%

Government Structure███3%

Land Use Regulation███3%

Transportation Safety██2%

Summary of Proceedings

Hudson Planning Commission Meeting

February 12, 2024, 7:30 PM | Town Hall, 27 East Main Street

The Hudson Planning Commission convened on February 12, 2024, at 7:30 PM. The meeting included a public hearing on a Summit Metroparks trailhead and parking lot site plan, discussion of commission leadership term limits, and preparation for a city council check-in. All actions were taken by unanimous votes where applicable.

Public Discussion

Commissioner Stolle read a prepared statement proposing changes to administrative rules to establish term limits for the chair and vice chair (maximum two years out of a four-year term or the length of a vacancy-filling term). He expressed gratitude for his service as chair and emphasized the commission's role as a watchdog for Hudson's character, citing a cautionary story from his hometown in Chicago. Other commissioners thanked him for his leadership.

Approval of Minutes

PC-1-8-24: Minutes from January 8, 2024, were approved with corrections (including roll call adjustments and a date correction). Vote: 5 ayes (Jones, Norman, Stolle, Vaughan, Nystrom), 1 abstain (Romano, who arrived late).

Public Hearings

PC 2023-1074: Summit Metroparks Trailhead and Parking Lot

Applicant: Summit Metroparks (represented by Mark Szeremet) and Wohlwend Engineering Group (Mike Wohlwend).
Project: A 7-vehicle parking lot, trailhead with kiosk and bike rack, and a 0.5-mile gravel connector trail to the existing Maple Grove loop trail on a 217-acre city-owned parcel under a perpetual lease with Metroparks. The site is on Hines Hill Road between Walters Road and the rail line.
Staff Review: Nicholas Sugar presented the project, noting coordination with Metroparks, environmental covenants from 2009-2012 protecting wetlands and Brandywine Creek tributaries, and a conservation easement. The parking lot would be chip-seal (impervious, rural look). The city plans a future multi-purpose trail along Hines Hill Road.
Commission Discussion:
- Parking lot size: Concerns raised by Commissioner Vaughan about only 7 spaces. Metroparks justified based on similar parks (e.g., Tinkers Creek Nature Preserve, 5,000–8,000 visitors/year, 20–22 people/day average). A land bank for 7 additional spaces was included in conditions.
- ADA compliance: Discussion on dimensions. Condition revised to require compliance with ADA regulations rather than specifying exact numbers.
- Turnaround: Added at the northern edge of the stall aisle, with widening on the northwest corner (approx. 8–10 feet) to avoid steep slopes.
- Landscape bufferyard and street trees: Required per LDC sections 1207.04(i) and (k).
- Signage: Warning signs for park entrance to be installed; temporary signs for special events (e.g., Fall Hiking Spree) to be coordinated with the city.
- Snow plowing, restroom (portable, April–November), trash receptacle, ranger patrols, deer culling (none on this site), and connectivity to Boston Heights and Veterans Trail.
- Lease terms: The chip-seal surface was approved by Western Reserve Land Conservancy; legal counsel confirmed zoning laws apply.
Public Testimony: None offered.
Outcome: Motion to approve with 7 conditions (including extending connector trail to Hines Hill Road in tandem with city's future trail, revised landscaping, parking modifications, zoning permit for signs, engineer's comments, coordination for trail connection, and state/federal approvals). Vote: 6 ayes (Jones, Norman, Stolle, Vaughan, Romano, Nystrom). Unanimous.

Other Business

Council Check-In Discussion

Staff introduced a request from City Council for each board/commission to present at a council meeting (tentatively March 12, 2024). Vice Chair Norman agreed to represent the commission.
Commissioners discussed:
- 2023 statistics: 20 applications, plus pre-application meetings that did not proceed.
- 2024 objectives: Comprehensive plan review (late spring/early summer), potential Land Development Code (LDC) rewrite, and training sessions.
- LDC rewrite: Commission consensus to recommend council establish a separate ad hoc committee (with representatives from PC, BZBA, ARC, Parks, etc.) rather than undertaking it entirely themselves.
- Annual responsibilities: Residential allocation recommendations and comprehensive plan review (not currently performed; need clarification).
- Industrial Design Subcommittee: Rarely meets but considered useful; recommended to continue.
Next Steps: Staff to prepare a draft report; topic of term limits for officers to be added to March 11, 2024 agenda for further discussion and possible motion.

Key Outcomes

Approved (6-0): Site Plan for Metroparks trailhead and parking lot, subject to 7 conditions.
Approved (5-0-1): Minutes of January 8, 2024.
Deferred: Motion on officer term limits to March 11, 2024 meeting.
Designated: Vice Chair Norman to present to City Council on March 12, 2024.
Consensus: Recommend council create separate committee for LDC rewrite.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'd like to call to order the City of Hudson Planning Commission meeting for Monday, May February 12th, 2024 at 7 30 p.m. Mr. Sugar, would you please call the roll? Ms. Norman. Here. Ms. Jones. Here. Mr. Stoley? Mr. Vaughan? Here. Mr. Nystrom. Here. Seeing we do have a quorum, we can proceed with tonight's meeting. Next, for anyone, including staff wishing to address the commission during tonight's meeting. Could you please stand and raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm under the penalty of perjury that the testimony you give tonight will be the truth? If so, please say I do. When addressing the commission, please come to the podium, speak into the microphone as this meeting is being recorded, and begin by stating your name and provide your street address. Next item on the agenda would be correspondence. I'd like to ask staff and commission members to please disclose any outside correspondence received since our last meeting. Seeing none, we can proceed to public discussion. This is the time for anyone who would like to address the commission on topics not listed with uh within tonight's agenda. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a statement. Umcerning last month's commission vote for a change in leadership. Um I in fact favor the concept of periodic refreshing of all organizations' leadership as mentioned in the short discussion by Ms. Jones and Mr. Romano. Accordingly, later this evening, I'll offer a motion to amend this commission's administrative rules to establish term limits for commission officers. Um I thought it appropriate also to take this moment to express my sincere gratitude to the staff and my fellow commissioners for the support council and cooperation extended to me while I served as chair. We consistently showed respect to all who came before the commission. We operated with decorum and in an even-handed business like manner. No one was ever denied a right to express themselves. I trust that will remain the commission's approach under Mr. Nidstrom's fine leadership. Um I look forward to more participation in the commission's proceedings as I no longer will be constrained by the responsibilities of being chair. What motivated me eight years ago to seek appointment to the planning commission remains unchanged. I'm committed to giving back to my hometown a community that has been very good to me, my family, and countless others. We're so fortunate to be residents of this exceptional community, but we must be ever vigilant to maintain the charm and character that defines Hudson. To that end, I'd like to relate a quick cautionary story that really has motivated me over the years. I was raised on Chicago's far northwest side in a community known as Norwood Park. Norwood was an independent village first established in 1833. The Central Business District was very similar to Hudson's. Norwood remained a residential community graced by large and historic homes and beautiful tree-lined streets.

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