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Residents push for Hudson sportsplex and weigh in on Clinton Crossing plan during public comment
Summary
At the April 21 Hudson council meeting, residents urged the city to consider a local sportsplex/ice arena (proposed sites and past project costs were cited), while other commenters voiced support and suggestions on the Clinton Crossing development and raised procedural complaints about permit records.
Several Hudson residents used the public-comment period at the April 21 council meeting to urge study of a locally based ice arena or multi-sport complex and to offer feedback on the Clinton Crossing development.
Russ Stice, who said he coached and organized youth hockey programs and previously led large public-private sportsplex projects, told council he believed Hudson could host a 220,000-square-foot multi-use facility and urged consideration of the Terrace Building as a potential site. Stice recounted past projects he described as having budgets of about $43 million and $50 million and said such facilities can support hockey, basketball and community programs. "I know it can be done," he told council, describing a facility with gyms, party rooms and concessions.
Supporters at the lectern included Sean Tobin and Brandon Grody, who said they drive 20 to 30 minutes to reach the nearest ice rinks and that a local arena would keep families and spending in Hudson. Grody, who leads a regional youth hockey association, said the lack of local ice infrastructure means money and activity leave the city.
During the same public-comment period, Tracy Corpus said she supports the Clinton Crossing redevelopment proposal and suggested the developer consider a larger Heinen's grocery and a "quaint" residential approach to keep the town character. She offered to circulate design examples she brought to the meeting.
A separate public commenter, Anthony Revita, raised a series of allegations about city handling of permit records and said council members mischaracterized his actions. The city manager responded in the meeting with a procedural clarification that work conducted by the city in the public right-of-way would not generate the same permit records as private work; the transcript records the manager's explanation but does not show further formal action or investigation arising from the exchange.
Council did not take immediate formal action on the sportsplex concept during the meeting; residents who advocated for the idea did not provide a staff feasibility study or a formal proposal for council consideration in this session. Several councilors later closed the public-comment period and proceeded with the regular agenda.
The meeting record shows a mix of community enthusiasm for recreational infrastructure and specific design/retail suggestions for Clinton Crossing. Any next steps, such as a staff feasibility study or referral to a committee or planning staff, were not recorded in the April 21 meeting minutes.
