Diving into the Issues: Phase 2, again

At the Sept. 15 Council meeting, Councilman Hal DeSaussure introduced the following motion and sought a vote by Council: “Move to instruct City staff to begin the process of negotiating the sale of the Phase 2 property to Fairmount Properties for the purpose of undertaking a residential development on the Phase 2 property consistent with the general concepts presented by Fairmount to Council, which development will be subject to approvals by the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Board and otherwise as required by the Land Development Code.”

This motion occurred after Randy Ruttenberg, CEO of Fairmount Properties (the developer who created our loved First & Main), sent a letter to Council indicating uncertainty about pursuing a development with Hudson at this time based on the responses he received from Council members after he made two presentations on the downtown development. Councilman DeSaussure said the motion would signal to Fairmount Council’s interest in working with them.

You can read the city’s summation of it here, the email from Mr. Ruttenberg here, or watch the video here.

The intention of this motion is not to sell the property at this stage. It was simply to enter into negotiations. I believe that in order for the residents of Hudson and for City Council to evaluate this plan, they need hard numbers, they need to see revisions, they need to see financial agreements, and more. The way to get those things is for the City to begin preliminary negotiations.

More on the negotiations later.

I watched the meeting, and while the purpose of the motion was clear to me, and maybe even to the other Council members, it was evident that a few of our Council members felt blindsided and out of the loop in that moment.

Since this meeting, residents have asked me, “How would you have voted? Yes, or No?”

My answer: Neither. 

I would not have voted “yes” or “no,” because those are not the only two options.

And I would not have abstained either.

While I have no personal issue with Councilman DeSaussure’s motion and am in favor of learning more, getting hard numbers, and seeing financial agreements, I am also sensitive to the fact that the best way to get things done for the citizens of Hudson is to reach across the aisle and compromise to get things done. I am not sure what this “aisle” is, exactly, because the office of City Council is nonpartisan, but lately it is clear there is a divide that needs to be bridged.

Had I been on Council when this motion was made, I would have moved that Councilman Deaussure’s motion to begin the process of negotiating with Fairmount Properties be forwarded to the next Council workshop for discussion, with the intention of bringing the motion forward again for a vote two weeks later at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting. 

I can understand and am sympathetic to the Council members who were asked to vote on a motion without warning it was to be introduced. Both of my opponents have gone on the record saying they would have voted “no” on this motion. I do not believe that is an effective way to bridge the gap that exists OR make progress forward, which is what our city needs.

Regarding negotiations - as long as the city is careful not to enter into any agreements that could result in lawsuits or liability, negotiations can only benefit Council and residents by providing more information to consider. Council would still need to vote to sell once negotiations are worked out, so this would not bind the city to any one plan or one developer. Negotiations would show Fairmount that the city is interested in doing business and gives Council leverage to ask for changes and give feedback. Additionally, everything would still be subject to approval by the Planning Commission, Architectural Review Board and Land Development Code. We are quite a ways off from signing on the dotted line.

This is a defining moment for Hudson. We can either do nothing, or we can do something. Those are the only two options.

It is my opinion that every single Council member should, at this point, have a clear understanding of what the residents of Hudson want to see happen with that land. Or, at the very least, what they do not want. Here is why:

1. We put the previous project to a vote in May of 2019, which failed, indicating changes needed to be made

2. Following that vote, Council held two citizen focused sessions to get feedback, one on May 28 and another on June 2 of 2019

3. The results of these two sessions were compiled into reports for Council to review, and were made publicly available to everyone in Hudson, including those who were running for the seats on Council they now hold (view them here)

4. Council has heard numerous public comments (which are now part of the record for that meeting and can be reviewed even now) regarding Phase 2 during the public comments section of Council meetings throughout 2018, 2019 and even in 2020

5. Council has gotten more feedback from residents via email, phone calls, and ward or at-large forums over the past few years

6. The newer Council members who were not on Council during the crux of the Phase 2 deliberations ran on the platform of knowing what their constituents wanted, so I hope that proves to be true

7. Phase 2 was born out of Hudson’s Comprehensive plan, which was created by citizens

So, the reality is that the citizens have spoken. They have given feedback. And a lot of feedback, at that.

I believe we need to integrate the citizen feedback, commence negotiations and get detailed plans, renderings, and financial reports for the Citizens to respond to. I believe that as a City, we are past the ideation phase and now it’s time for Council to get down to business and do the job we elected them to do - give us the plan that is best for the city. 

It is clear that Councilmen DeSaussure and Wooldredge and Councilwoman Schlademan feel confident they can implement the robust citizen feedback into a new plan for Hudson to consider and move towards progress. At this point, no one on Council should not feel capable of doing this if they have really been doing the job the way they promised the citizens they would.

Taking this necessary step towards progress is not binding and still allows room for resident input at various points in the process to shape this project. I believe that while the citizens have given feedback already, they can still provide more as this project develops.

I am hopeful we can move towards progress on this issue as a City and go into this next step of downtown development with open minds.

Let’s get to work.

Have questions? Want to share with me your thoughts on developing the Phase 2 area? As always, I would love to have a conversation! Email me directly at nicole@kowalski4hudson.com.