Akron: Department of Planning & Urban Development: Hickory Corridor January 13, 2003

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January 23, 2003 Agenda

AgendaHeaderPhoto012303.jpg (23447 bytes)

Thursday, January 23, 2003

The first meeting in the series was held on January 23, and examined existing conditions, on-going initiatives along Hickory Street and in the surrounding area.

Topics of discussion included:

Planning Objectives
Land Use Plan
Development Standards
Public/Private Investment Required
Infrastructure Program
Implementation Schedule

Existing Conditions:
- Topography

Existing Land Use
Existing land use along Hickory Street (including North Walnut Street, Maple Street, Hubbard Street, Howard Court and Overlook Place) is primarily single-family residential interspersed with vacant and / or undeveloped lots. A nursing home is located south of Memorial Parkway. A large warehouse located at 450 Hickory Street and property owned by Barbicas Construction for storage of equipment at 336 Hickory Street are the only commercial uses along Hickory Street. Most of the development along Silver Street west to Aqueduct is residential, with commercial development located on the north side of Silver Street, west of Valley.

Land use along the major arterials in this area (North Street, Howard Street and Cuyahoga Street) is a mix of commercial and residential development, including many large warehouses. Vacant and / or undeveloped lots are frequent.

The restored Mustill Store and Mustill House, located north of North Street just north of the trailhead for the Towpath Trail, the Cascade Locks of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Towpath Trail itself are cornerstones for new development in this area. Most of the property north of the Innerbelt, west of Howard Street and south of North Street is located within the nationally designated Cascades Locks Historic District.
Existing Zoning
Existing Zoning throughout the study area is mixed. Generally, the northern portion of Hickory Street is zoned for single family residential development. But from Overlook Place south, zoning on Hickory Street is split between two family residential primarily on the north side of the street and commercial and ordinary industry primarily on the south side of the street. A small pocket of land is zoned for retail development on either side of Overlook Place where it meets Hickory Street. Most of the property around the intersections at Silver Street and Aqueduct and Silver Street and Valley (including Doyle, Nickel and Gold) is zoned for apartments. Zoning along North Street is primarily commercial.
Infrastructure
An eight inch water main runs along the length of Hickory Street. Sewer lines are located along Hickory Street from North Street past Overlook Place to the bend in the road near the railroad tracks. North of this point, only the nursing home has a sanitary sewer line that ties into the main trunk sewer. Stone street culverts line Hickory Street from Silver Street north to Memorial Parkway. The right of way for Hickory Street varies from 60 feet on the southern end to 40 and 45 feet for the remainder.

Hickory Street Renewal
Topography
Topography has divided the study area into distinct zones. From Memorial Parkway south to the first bend in Hickory Street the area is relatively flat, rising slightly on the west side to the railroad tracks, where the incline up becomes severe. Until this point, all properties are afforded easy access to the Towpath Trail. At the bend in the road, Hickory Street rises sharply up to a railroad crossing and then levels off, then rises more gradually to Silver Street. Upon reaching the crest of the hill, property on either side of Hickory Street in this area is relatively flat, but there is a sharp drop-off down to the Little Cuyahoga River on the east side of the street. Following Hickory Street north to the Mustill Store, topography precludes development in some areas due to slope and lack of access.