The Planning & Development Department consists of the following divisions: Planning, Economic Development, Zoning & GIS (Geographic Information Systems). The Department is responsible for planning the future development of Stow, managing current land uses, facilitation of business development, and enforcement of the City's Zoning Code.

ABOUT STOW

Located in northern Summit County, the City of Stow is a dynamic community which has experienced steady growth in the last decade.  Stow is conveniently located between Akron and Cleveland and offers excellent access to major highways.  With an estimated 2006 population of 34,335, Stow is the third largest city in Summit County.

PLANNING HISTORY

Stow’s steady growth is managed through the use of the Zoning Code and the Comprehensive Plan.  The City has long recognized the need for proper balance between residential, commercial and industrial areas and adopted the City's first Comprehensive Plan in 1960. It was updated in 1991 and again in 2001 in order to ensure that the land use policies and goals reflected current development patterns.  This Comprehensive Plan is utilized in conjunction with the Zoning Code to serve as a continuing guide in defining community land use objectives and policies.  Stow’s Zoning Code and Map divides the City into residential, commercial and industrial districts and provides detailed regulations on the specific uses permitted in those districts.  One of the long-standing goals of planning in Stow has been to limit retail development at major intersections throughout the City in order to avoid “strip” retail development along major roads.  Please refer to Stow’s general reference map for the location of major shopping areas and other places of interest.

RECENT DEVELOPMENT

Stow’s northwest quadrant including the Steels Corners Road/SR 8 intersection continues to experience significant growth.  The Akron General Wellness Center (North) located at 4300 Allen Road adjacent to S.R. 8, which opened in 2007, represented a major addition to the City of Stow.  This state-of-the-art 96,400 square foot facility features the LifeStyles fitness center, a 24-hour emergency department, 3 pools, Mario’s Spa, medical offices, diagnostic imaging services, and physical rehabilitation facilities.

Another important addition to the community is the Stow Municipal Courthouse development located at Steels Corners Road & State Route 8.  This 38,500 square foot facility is two stories in height and finished in natural stone panels. The first floor is comprised of administrative offices and the second floor includes 2 main courtrooms, 3 hearing rooms, and offices for judges and other courthouse personnel. The Stow Municipal Court serves over 160,000 people living in northeast Summit County, including the communities of Boston Heights, Boston Township, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, Munroe Falls, Northfield, Northfield Center Township, Peninsula, Reminderville, Sagamore Hills, Silver Lake, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg and Twinsburg Township.

The Steels Corners/S.R. 8 area is well served with numerous restaurants, a variety of retail services, two traditional hotels (Hampton Inn & Courtyard by Marriot) and an extended stay hotel, Staybridge Inn.

Two business parks are actively being developed in Stow’s prime industrial quadrant.  Albrecht, Inc., has created the “Hudson Drive Business Campus” on 103 acres purchased from Goodyear located on Hudson Drive & McCauley Road.  The former mold plant has been renovated and is currently home to Twin Sisters Productions, an industry leader in children’s educational music.  The remaining acreage is being developed into a business park.  Two 25,000 square foot flex office buildings have been constructed in the park and two more office buildings have been approved.  On Prosper Drive between McCauley and Seasons Road less than ½ mile to the northwest, the Geis Company is developing “Stow Commerce Center”, a 60-acre industrial/office park.  Three projects have been completed in this park, including a 122,000 square foot facility for Mickey Thompson, a performance tire and wheel supplier, a 64,000 office/warehouse for Consolidated Plastics, a supplier plastic bottles, containers and bags to industry, and a 156,000 square foot expansion for Wrayco, a steel fabrication company.

 

PLANNED ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Given the recent and future development in the northwest quadrant of Stow, several road improvements have been recently completed, are underway, or are planned:

• Steels Corners Road / State Route 8 Interchange Area Improvements - to be completed 2009
• Hudson Drive Widening from Steels Corners Rd to Commerce Dr - to be completed 2010
• Seasons Rd / State Route 8 Interchange - to be completed 2010
• State Route 8 Reconstruction (Limited Access Highway North of Stow) - to be completed 2010

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

Stow also offers a wide range of housing choices, including executive homes, golf course subdivisions, several medium priced subdivisions, condominiums and moderately priced dwellings, and recently constructed apartment developments.

STOW’S BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Stow offers a diverse mix of employment in manufacturing, retail goods, service establishments, and in public services and is the basis of Stow's stable and healthy economy.  Stow is home to companies producing a variety of products, ranging from adhesives, rubber, plastics, high-tech sound systems, metals machining, and mold design and production. 

Growth of industrial, commercial and residential development reflects the City's willingness and desire to assist business development and promote future growth in the city of Stow.  To assist in new commercial and industrial development, and the expansion of existing industries, the City offers a variety of tax incentives including an Enterprise Zone, Community Reinvestment Area and a Foreign Trade Zone