AKRON, Ohio — A draft zoning code to guide development across 1,097 acres south of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, known as “the Valley,” is ready for public review and comment.
The draft of Merriman Valley-Schumacher Area Form-Based Zoning Code, developed by Chicago-based Farr Associates, is a regulatory framework that “fosters the creation of vibrant, walkable places by allowing for a mix of compatible uses,” the city of Akron said in a release.
The proposed zoning code, which can be viewed online, follows development of the Merriman Valley-Schumacher Area Master Plan released in early 2022.
That plan was also the result of public input gathered during several charettes and public meetings held in 2021.
A proposed intersection at North Hampton Road and Portage Trail in the Valley. (Courtesy of Farr Associates)
The draft zoning code, intended to dovetail with the master plan, aims to:
- balance conservation and development in the area
- achieve design excellence in the built environment
- guide the area’s prosperous and sustainable future
With the Merriman Valley neighborhood in Akron and the Schumacher area in Cuyahoga Falls, the process of developing both plans has been collaborative with the cities, the broader community and the citizen-led group, Preserve the Valley, taking an active part.
With its mission to protect the valley’s assets, especially the watershed, Preserve the Valley had championed for such a plan since 2020 to ensure development in the valley and around the Cuyahoga River and its tributaries is environmentally and economically sound.
Prior to the master-planning process, members of Preserve the Valley often spoke publicly in both cities against density, design and proximity to the Cuyahoga River of earlier residential developments.
Co-founder of Preserve the Valley Drew Holland has said the valley, which draws nearly three million visitors per year and generates about $80 million in economic activity, is the area’s “single greatest opportunity to actually grow our population in the last 80 to 100 years.”
As a result of the group’s effort, current plans for the valley support “form-based” development, which is characterized by design that complements the environment a structure is built into, from building materials to features like type and number of windows and a structure’s physical positioning within the landscape, according to Farr Associates.
A rendering of a stylized boat design element in the Merriman Valley – Schumacher Area. Courtesy of Farr Associates)
In outlining the master plan last year during a community meeting, Farr Associates presented ideas for mixed residential and commercial development, which, through design, could reduce traffic congestion while optimizing green areas and the overall aesthetics of the valley.
Farr Associates founder Doug Farr said master plan feedback revealed most residents want the cities to stay involved during development, not only by adopting regulations and providing incentives to developers, but in some cases to participate as developers.
Features of the master plan include:
- neighborhoods that are walkable and equitable
- a business district that serves as a gateway to the national park
- an environment that’s protected through conservation neighborhoods, habitat corridors and riparian setbacks
- transportation systems, including streets, trails, sidewalks and river access, that increase safety and reduce congestion
Akron City Councilwoman Nancy Holland and Councilman and mayor-elect Shammas Malik will host a public meeting to discuss the draft zoning code on Wednesday, June 28, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane in the valley.
The meeting will be livestreamed on the Preserve the Valley Facebook page as well.
Input and comments related to the draft zoning code can be emailed to the city or submitted by calling 330-375-2090.
