Cuyahoga Falls City Council holds regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Council committee meetings are held on the first and third Mondays in order to allow councilmembers to publicly discuss pending legislation that will be voted on at regular meetings. The public is free to comment on pending legislation during the allowed time set aside as part of committee meetings.
Legislation Scheduled for Discussion:
A-42: An ordinance approving the establishment of a New Title 5, “Merriman Valley Schumacher Code” and associated text and zoning map amendments for multiple parcels in the Merriman Valley Schumacher area, as more fully described and depicted herein.
Committee Chair Susan Spinner opened the public hearing on this ordinance and the first part of the presentation came from Community Development Director Diana Colavecchio who gave a little history on the project that goes back to April 2019. She described the working relationship that evolved between Cuyahoga Falls and Akron that has led us to where we are today. The goals from the beginning have been to conserve, preserve, and redevelop rather than develop. Colavecchio also went stated that the long-term goal is for all 16 communities who share borders with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to adopt this plan for their communities as well.
Planning Director Rob Kurtz went over the rule book for the master plan that will regulate this part of the city. Akron has voted on and adopted the same legislation for the area of their city that shares borders with the Falls in this area. Public input on this plan has included:
- 4 Public workshops (2 via Zoom & 2 live events at Todaro’s
- 1 Listening session (Natatorium)
- 2 Community surveys
- 3 Planning Commission meetings
Kurtz presented a slideshow with some of the changes that included acceptable uses along Akron-Peninsula Road to be makerspaces and lodging and removed as acceptable uses personal storage units and automotive sales. Another big change for the existing code is the open space requirement for new construction in some cases will be as much as 60% of the property being developed. When it came to the public comment portion of the hearing there were two comments for the change and one against. After approximately an hour the hearing was closed, and the planning and zoning committee discussed the legislation and voted to bring it out for a vote before all of council next Monday, June 10.
For more information on the Merriman Valley Master Plan visit the City’s website on the subject.
Public Affairs:
A-54: A resolution approving and adopting the Summit County 911 Plan. Mayor Walters explained the new regional center is working smoothly and with having that many neighboring safety forces under one roof, dispatchers communicate real time and it has proven to be an asset during multi jurisdiction car chases and other crimes within the county. The resolution before council enables the city to have a PSAP (public safety answering point) from the state-wide pool and receive funds from cellular providers for mobile calls that are routed to our dispatch center (approximately $15k per month). The committee voted to bring this out for a vote next Monday.
Miscellaneous Business:
A representee from AMP Ohio (American Public Power), Alex Roth, was on hand to present the Lyle B Wright scholarship to Woodridge graduating senior Madelyn Samerdak. The winners of the awards are determined through personal achievement, school/community activities, knowledge of public power based on an online test administered at the local municipal utility and scholastic record.
