Council restricts low-speed vehicles, delays Canterbury settlement vote

by Judy Stringer

Oct. 6 city council meeting

Residents who own street-legal golf carts and other “low-speed” vehicles must follow new operating rules and safety restrictions.

Hudson City Council passed an ordinance that bans under-speed vehicles (capable of speeds up to 20 mph) from public roads within the city. Low-speed vehicles (up to 25 mph) are allowed on streets with a posted speed limit of up to 25 mph, while utility vehicles and mini trucks are permitted on streets with speed limits of up to 35 mph.

The measure went through several changes since it was proposed by Police Chief Perry Tabak in August. Qualifying vehicles, for instance, can travel up to a quarter mile on roads with limits of no more than 35 mph when needed to reach the nearest street where they may legally operate. Council member Amanda Weinstein said the quarter-mile rule, which she made a motion to add, addresses residents’ concerns about “reaching downtown” and other areas of the city with these vehicles.

In addition to street restrictions, vehicles in these categories may only operate during daylight hours; must be titled and registered through the state; must pass an inspection by the Hudson Police Department to verify required safety features, including functioning seatbelts, license plate lighting and tires rated by the manufacturer as suitable for pavement or street use; and must display the official inspection decal.

The low-speed vehicle ordinance passed with a 5-0 vote. Council members Skylar Sutton and Samantha D’Eramo were not in attendance.

Settlement stalled

The fate of a residential development planned for southeast Hudson still hangs in the balance. The five council members present agreed to postpone, until Nov. 17, the vote on a legal settlement with Prestige Builder Group. The settlement, if approved, would grant the developer permission to construct the 32-lot “Canterbury Meadows” subdivision on 94 acres at the intersection of Ravenna Street and Stow Road.

The proposed development has drawn intense community scrutiny. It’s the newest iteration of a subdivision that Hudson City Council and the city’s planning commission rejected in 2024, based primarily on stormwater management concerns. Prestige and property owner George Vizmeg sued, arguing that the project’s denial constituted an unconstitutional regulatory taking and imposed undue financial hardship by denying them economically viable use of the land.

In regulatory takings claims, damages reflect lost profits and development rights rather than just the land’s raw value, meaning the city faces multi-million-dollar liability linked to a luxury subdivision expected to fetch more than $30 million upon completion.

Although the Summit County Court of Common Pleas initially ruled in the city’s favor, the pending settlement before council aims to end an ongoing appeal and resolve the high-stakes claims.

At the Oct. 6 meeting, several council members said they wanted to postpone a vote on a resolution accepting the settlement so they could talk with area residents and address their concerns. More than a dozen residents testified against the settlement during a three-hour public hearing on Sept. 25, and seven more spoke at the Oct. 6 meeting.

Council member Kyle Brezovec also discussed the potential legal liability of rejecting the settlement.

“There is a very real risk that if we say no to passing this lawsuit, in a few years this development still gets built. The city loses a lot of money, loses this hardship lawsuit. It’s a very real risk,” he said.