We started off the night with a Planning Committee meeting where the sole focus was the presentation of the Stow Connectivity Plan provided after a study completed by City Architecture. This study was funded under a grant award from AMATS and focused primarily on completing trails to improve connectivity in Stow. This presentation shared a concept of how we could get the City connected with bike trail loops and where we have missing links to finish these loops. It also showed some ideas of how to make these improvements and what the design/concepts could look like. They reviewed crash data, current connections and accessibility, along with getting feedback from the citizens through interactive events and an online interactive map. The presentation was very well done, and I believe this gives us as a City a starting point to create our plan of how to accomplish some of these missing links and connections. Once the final report is provided, I look forward to seeing the action plan come together and come before Council.
Council also approved additional funds related to a stormwater project in Ward 2 on Silver Springs Drive that will now need to be designed differently after the Metroparks did not approve the initial plan developed by the City. This project is tricky as it has multiple players involved including the City, the Metroparks, and Energy Transfer who has a gas line and easement that crosses the project area. Council approved looking at alternative designs as there is a need to stop the erosion of the gas lines and flooding of residential areas. I appreciate Mike Jones, our Assistant City Engineer on remaining diligent to this project and looking at these alternatives.
Council also approved new software that will be used by the Law Department and the Council office for creation of legislation, agenda, and help provided better public records to our citizens. This software will also integrate with the software purchased for a new City website to provide the citizens access to the items mentioned above. This is a huge step forward in bringing more technology to assist our Council office and streamline some antiquated processes. This Council has been focused on improving the use of technology to provided better access to our citizens.
Our next Council Meeting will be March 24th and will include a public hearing starting at 5:30 PM to discus re-zoning the Hope Homes property on Fishcreek Road from C-2 Limited Retail to C-3 Limited Retail.