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Hudson council delays vote on proposed District 11 zoning after residents and planning commission concerns
Summary
Council postponed the ordinance to create Zoning District 11 (South Darrow Road) to March 3, 2026, after a public hearing in which residents and the Planning Commission raised concerns about conflicts with the 2024 comprehensive plan, residential density, and planned-development bonuses.
Hudson City Council voted to postpone consideration of a zoning code amendment that would establish Zoning District 11 along the South Darrow Road corridor, moving the item to a date certain of March 3, 2026. The postponement followed a staff overview and extensive public comment urging caution and requesting additional revisions.
City planning staff explained the amendment is intended to allow more office and light industrial uses along Darrow Road, permit limited outlot retail and restaurant uses to provide amenities for nearby employment centers, and enable planned developments subject to higher design review. "In reference to the 2024 Hudson comprehensive plan, the proposed map amendment is responsive to comprehensive plan recommendations," Mr. Hannan, the city's CD director, told the council.
But public commenters, including representatives of the Hudson Heritage Association and steering-committee members from the comprehensive-plan process, said the proposal would not align with the plan's guidance for light industrial flex and could create a competing commercial center near downtown. "We respectfully urge you to vote no on this issue," Andrew Meldrum of the Hudson Heritage Association told council during the hearing.
Planning Commission members and other residents also urged changes: Sarah Norman, who identified involvement with the 2024 steering committee and as a planning-commission liaison, recommended delaying the vote to allow the commission to help refine planned-development language and to consider moratoria or continued review so the planned-development bonuses are not exploited. Staff and the planning commission discussed reducing minimum acreage thresholds for planned developments, lowering maximum multifamily densities (recommending 15 units per acre vs. staff's 20), and removing or clarifying bonus standards that could increase density.
Council moved to postpone the third reading and actionable vote to March 3; the motion passed 5'to'1, with Councilor Sutton opposed. Council asked staff to return with a cleaned-up draft amendment reflecting Planning Commission recommendations (minimum acreage, residential density adjustments, and removal of density bonuses) for final consideration.
What happens next: staff will prepare a revised ordinance reflecting Planning Commission input and return to council on March 3 for final action or further debate.
