City of Akron and City of Cuyahoga Falls Announce Next Steps in Merriman Valley Master Planning Process

Draft plan to be released in January

City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of City of Akron Press Office
Published: 12-16-2021

Akron, Ohio, December 16, 2021 — Last night, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters held a virtual public meeting with urban planning consultant Farr Associates to discuss the draft Merriman Valley - Schumacher Area Master Plan. The key findings and recommendations of the draft plan were presented in a slide deck, available here. A recording of the presentation will be available on the Cities’ websites in the coming days.  

Highlights and recommendations of the draft Master Plan, include:
 

• Proposed Land Uses – including changes to the existing Zoning Code
• Improved Transportation Systems - streets, trails, sidewalks, and river access
• Environmental Considerations - conservation neighborhoods, habitat corridors, and riparian setbacks
• Example Development and Redevelopment Scenarios – within the study area in both Akron and Cuyahoga Falls

After a presentation by the consultant, Farr Associates, meeting participants were able to ask questions of the consultant team led by Doug Farr and city officials, including Diana Colavecchio, City of Cuyahoga Falls Community Development Director, and Jason Segedy, City of Akron Planning Director.  This dialogue was moderated by Dan Rice, President of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and Chair of the Cuyahoga Falls Planning Commission.  The meeting was well-attended with over 200 participants.

The feedback and discussion will be used to further revise and refine the draft plan which will be issued to the public in early 2022. After the draft plan has been released, there will still be opportunity to provide further feedback. The Cities plan to present recommended zoning code changes to their respective City Councils in 2022.

To learn more about the Master Plan, visit Akron's website here or Cuyahoga Falls' website here. 

For any questions/comments regarding the Merriman Valley & Schumacher Area Master Plan:

In Akron, call: 330-375-2090, or email [email protected].

In Cuyahoga Falls, call: 330-971-8135, or email [email protected].

For further information, contact:
City of Akron Press Office
Phone: 330-375-2754
E-mail: [email protected]