GREEN: Plans for the Massillon Road corridor will be one of the main topics at a citywide meeting Tuesday evening at the Central Administration Building.Development in the Akron-Canton Airport area and expansion of Summit County’s vast trail system also will be discussed. The one-hour meeting will be held in council chambers in the city offices on Town Park Boulevard, with refreshments available at 6:45 p.m. and talks to begin at 7.A conceptual view of how to make the Massillon Road corridor more inviting and an update on stormwater flooding and possible solutions were laid out for City Council at a meeting last week..Planning Director Wayne Wiethe discussed his vision for Green by focusing on land use, policy and planning, and transportation and traffic management.His thoughts and initial suggestions were followed by brief general comments by City Engineer Paul Pickett and Service Director Randy Monteith on a study of potential immediate fixes and long-range solutions for areas that have suffered severe flooding because of vast amounts of rain in the area over the years and especially the past several months.Wiethe said the city needs to take a hard look at making the Massillon Road corridor and surrounding area more attractive for residents and passers-by, from Raber Road to Steese Road, to attract more businesses and jobs.He said Massillon Road needs to be made “more visible” by adding quality to the area. He cited the growth already under way with the additions of the Akron General Health and Wellness Center, the Summa emergency medical facility, a $1 million renovation at the McDonald’s restaurant and other businesses that are new or renovating and expanding.He also mentioned a planned complex for the east side of Massillon Road, just south of Burgess Drive, that will feature restaurants, offices, stores and a residential area.Wiethe suggested enhancing the bridge over Interstate 77 to attract travelers to stop in Green. He also urged working with the Ohio Department of Transportation to improve landscaping at the Massillon Road intersection with I-77.Ward 1 Councilman Jim Colopy urged Wiethe to include the Massillon Road area between state Route 619 and Raber Road in his concept, considering the volume of traffic coming onto the corridor, as well as all the vacant land in that area that could be developed.Wiethe said land is available along the corridor for more development, including possibly adding side roads to move traffic and ease the flow on Massillon Road. He also is looking for ways to get motorists to leave their vehicles and walk to various businesses rather than driving from one to another.“We will have to do much more work and ask for more funds to bring someone on board to help with this development,” Wiethe told council members.Flooding issuesAs for stormwater problems, Pickett said he and Monteith are working on immediate and long-term solutions. Mayor Dick Norton has their first draft and is expected to share it at the council’s next meeting, Sept. 13.Pickett said this year’s budget has funds for some immediate remedies. Others will be considered for capital improvement funding and possible grants.Asked about hiring a consulting or engineering firm to identify stormwater problems, Pickett said: “What we have identified are definite problems. I’m not sure we need help in finding them.”Colopy and Councilman-at-Large Bruce Manwaring supported a study of areas where a stormwater development plan can be created to reduce the impact on properties downstream from a new development.Pickett cautioned about creating regulations that would force a new development to rectify old problems. He suggested the developer and city could work together to identify problems and find solutions.Law Director Stephen Pruneski pointed out the city has no liability under the law in such situations. However, he said, the city does have a responsibility to help provide quality of life by assisting affected residents where possible.Pruneski said the city might have to consider assessing property owners for improvements.Resident Dana Beezeley-Smith told council she has learned that hazard mitigation funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency is possible. She said she talked with a member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which said the agency could work with the city on storm-water problems and possible funding.