Hudson Planning Commission Meeting - June 22, 2026

The Hudson Planning Commission met on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 7:30 PM in Town Hall. The meeting covered approval of minutes, correspondence on the Clinton Crossing charrette, extensive discussion on proposed revisions to the Planned Development (PD) code, a preliminary discussion on Special Events regulations, and staff updates on upcoming applications and joint session scheduling. A key motion passed 5-1 to have Chair Norman present a memo on PD code issues to City Council and form a subcommittee to begin revising the language.

Consent Calendar

• PC 4-27-26 Minutes (Joint Board Session, April 27, 2026): Approved as amended (4-0-2, with two abstentions).
• PC 5-11-26 Minutes (Regular Meeting, May 11, 2026): Approved as corrected (4-2, with two abstentions).

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during the Public Discussion section. Councilwoman Weinstein attended but did not offer formal testimony.

Correspondence

• Commissioners who attended the Clinton Crossing charrette (three sessions, each with over 40 people) reported that the events were well-organized and productive. Common themes included strong sensitivity toward density near Owen Brown Street, difficulty consolidating many ideas, and a need for clearer guidelines tied to the Land Development Code (LDC). Staff noted the next charrette session is July 1, with concept plans to be presented July 22.
• Chair Norman clarified that she has no role in the District 11 ballot petition and cannot direct residents on where to sign.
• Chair Norman announced that, after consulting with senior commissioner Nystrom and staff, a recurring agenda item for the City Council Liaison will not be added; instead, the liaison can be added on an as-needed basis. Some commissioners expressed interest in more frequent interaction with Council.

Discussion Items

A. Old Business – Planned Developments (PD) Code Revision

• Staff provided a recap of presentations from April 13 and May 11 by Arthur Schmidt of OHM Advisors, including a peer-city review (Aurora, Twinsburg, Brecksville, Medina, Solon). Key points: the city should identify where to be flexible vs. strict in the LDC; clarify the approval process; define minimum acreage (typically 10+ acres); and limit zoning districts where PDs are allowed.
• Chair Norman distributed her annotated memo on PD code sections, noting conflicts in definitions, purpose, and bonus provisions. She raised questions about using a concept plan vehicle to start with Council and about the authority to call up minor modifications.
• Extensive debate on how to proceed: whether to form a subcommittee alone or jointly with Council, whether to first seek Council’s blessing, and whether to impose a moratorium on new PD applications.
• Two motions failed for lack of a second:
  • Motion by Ms. Smith to have Chair Norman present an abbreviated memo to Council for direction.
  • Motion by Mr. Innamorato to impose a six-month moratorium on PD applications until code revisions are made.
• A third motion by Mr. Nystrom, seconded by Ms. Obert, passed 5-1: to have Chair Norman present the full memo to Council and to establish a Planning Commission subcommittee to begin work on PD language revisions immediately. Subcommittee volunteers: Chair Norman, Ms. Obert, and staff; Councilwoman Weinstein invited ex officio.
• Commissioners expressed concern about legal vulnerabilities in the current code and the need for timely action, especially with Clinton Crossing expected to come forward as a PD later in 2026.

B. Other Business – Special Events (Chapter 872)

• Ms. Obert introduced a discussion on Chapter 872 (Temporary Special Events) after confusion over permit requirements for food trucks and events on private property. The city coordinates over 100 special events annually.
• Key issues: ambiguity in when a permit is needed (events drawing >250 people), lack of a blanket permit provision, and overlap with Chapter 1206.04 (Temporary Uses). Chair Norman noted that the two sections may conflict.
• Staff indicated they plan to review Chapter 872 later in 2026 and welcome feedback. No formal action was taken; the discussion was informational.

Key Outcomes

• Vote on PC 4-27-26 Minutes: Approved as amended (4-0-2).
• Vote on PC 5-11-26 Minutes: Approved as corrected (4-2).
• Motion on Planned Developments (Nystrom/Obert): Passed 5-1. Directs Chair Norman to present her memo to City Council and creates a Planning Commission subcommittee to begin revising PD language.
• No action on Special Events: The commission discussed but took no formal action; staff will review the code section independently.
• Upcoming Meetings: A joint session with City Council is likely July 27 or August 10, 2026, depending on scheduling. Regular PC meetings are set for July 27, 2026 and August 10, 2026 (with private applications possibly moved to August 24).
• Next Commission Agenda: July 27, 2026 will include a major site plan review for a dentist's office (Lawnmark & Norton Road) and a conditional use application for a youth gymnastics center (Hudson Drive).