What will I see when I enter the voting place?  What is the ballot language?

SHALL THE ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 1205.01 AND ENACTING

SECTION 1205.15 OF THE ZONING CODE AND AMENDING THE

ZONE MAP OF THE CITY OF HUDSON BY CHANGING THE ZONING

OF CERTAIN LAND LOCATED ALONG NORTON ROAD, DARROW ROAD AND

HUDSON DRIVE FROM DISTRICT 8, INDUSTRIAL/BUSINESS PARK

DISTRICT, AND DISTRICT 9, DARROWVILLE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR DISTRICT,

TO DISTRICT 11, RESTRICTED RETAIL DISTRICT, BE ADOPTED?

This ballot language, with 12 pages of new zoning code behind it ...

     ... was WRITTEN BY THE DEVELOPER

     ... is CONTRARY to the Comprehensive Plan just adopted by City Council

     ... BYPASSED technical review by Hudson's professional development staff

     ... AVOIDED review by our Planning Commission

The proponents of Issue 25 are counting on the residents and city leaders of Hudson

to be confused and uninformed about the details of the ballot.

Click here to read the entire text of the proposed re-zoning ordinance.

What does this mean for Hudson?

Should this ballot language be approved by voters this Fall, it will ...

• REQUIRE Hudson to allow the "Anyplace, USA" appearance of prototypical chain stores 

• REQUIRE the City to use an alternative review process that favors the developer

• ALLOW signage far greater in number and size than the current zoning allows

• ALLOW internally lit signage, prohibited under current zoning

• REQUIRE the City to review signs based on the norm of "Northeast Ohio", not Hudson

• PERMIT all parking in the front, while current zoning requires most to the side and rear

• ALLOW individual stores to be 50,000 s.f., not 5,000 and 10,000 per Hudson citywide standards

• ALLOW additional properties to subsequently "piggyback" onto the shopping center

• INCREASE permitted building heights from 35 to 50 feet

• ALLOW 80% of the lot to be impervious surface (parking, concrete, foundation, etc.), while current zoning limit is 60%

• EXEMPT their project from Hudson's landscaping and screening requirements

• MANDATE that THEIR regulations prevail if in conflict with our current zoning

The developers are attempting to create a NEW District 11, rewrite our zoning code, and handcuff local planning and development officials.