Nestle USA seeks to build a new research and development building in Solon, but must ask the voters to rezone a residential parcel first.
News of the expansion effort was applauded by members of the city administration and Solon City Council Monday, when officials from Nestle came to tell them about the project.
Roberto Reniero, the head of research and development for Nestle in Solon, said the expansion is needed to support the company's frozen food business here and around the globe.
But the expansion will require a zoning amendment approved by voters because the land in question is zoned residential. Nestle already owns the property.
Nestle submitted its petition with 1,500 signatures on Aug. 12. The company needs a bit less than 1,000 to check out so the petition can be certified and the amendment placed on the ballot.
The petition must be sent to the county elections office within 60 days of the election.
A majority of voters in the city, as well as in Ward 5, will have to vote yes for the measure to pass.
The project site is located in Ward 5, off Cannon Road near Hawthorne Parkway. Councilwoman Nancy Meany said she knows residents in the ward have questions and she looks forward to making sure everyone is educated.
"I am looking forward to cooperating with my residents as well as Nestle so we can come to a good understanding," Meany said.
Nestle is the city's top employer and the company produces a number of its frozen-food brands at its facilities off of U.S. 422.
"It's important for the city of Solon," said Ward 4 Councilman Bill Mooney. "This solidifies their position in our city."
Stay tuned to Solon Patch for more on this story.
Sassysolonite
11:45 am on Monday, August 29, 2011
It's all well and good, if Nestle would have not decided to build in a residential area... Imagine purchasing your dream home only to find out that you are having this research and development center as your new neighbor. Talk about increased traffic, light pollution from a parking lot, and the over all property value of your home dropping even more than it already has. I would normally support business development however in this case, I can not!!! KEEP RESIDENTIAL, RESIDENTIAL! There are tons of commerical buildings in Solon that could be used as a Nestle new facility, just drive down Brainbrige Road.....THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR RESIDENTS OF CANNON ROAD!! PLEASE consider how you would feel if someone told you that they wanted to build this facility right next to your house!
John
11:20 pm on Monday, August 29, 2011
The same BB Rd that has duplexes in the middle between two commercial zones? Are those people less "residential".
First, they are already there, Cannon road already abuts their facility. Second, we're not talking about a big building in the middle of a residential neighborhood, we're talking about a sliver of land next to a busy, noisy, dirty freeway, someplace no one would want to live near anyway. Third, before you chase out all business, let's apply some common sense, some expansion is bad, some not so bad.
As a BB Rd resident I know first hand that we all "must sacrifice for the greater good", now it's your turn.
Sassysolonite
2:11 pm on Tuesday, August 30, 2011
BB rd residents are not less residential at all, that's my point! Where is the re-zoning going to end? We are setting a precedent....Why build a new building and go through all this trouble when Nestle could build or buy one of the empty business spaces in Solon that has the proper zoning? There are too many unanswered questions for Cannon road residents to support this facility. By voting to change this zoning to Industrial Manufacturing who's to say what the building will look like and what they will be producing 30 years from now. The plant they are purposing is not a small building by any means, and it actually is directly in the middle of a residential area. Cannon road residents already tolerate the Nestle train and the bright lights that impede upon the night sky. Who’s to say once this is passed other businesses won’t want nice research and development centers in the middle of a residential park like setting?
Obviously, since Solon was voted the 3rd best place to live, Solon residents have sacrificed enough for big business… Now we are just letting them take over!
Greg Crough
9:57 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
Nestle is a great company and good for Solon but what they want to do here is not good for the residents of this area. If this rezoning passes then when all is said and done there will be an industrial driveway on a residential street. Research center of not it will add 140 cars to Cannon road daily and change the entire mood of the neighborhood. Right now this corner is a residential street with the metro park as the cross road. The last thing this area needs is a comercial driveway with a Nestle sigh. There are plenty of commercial areas that could be considered. Rezoning this land and allowing industrial access to a residential street is a one way journey. Once this land is rezoned there is no turning back.
Doodaa Doodaa
10:57 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2011
The reality is Stouffers/Nestle has had some type of expansion in the works at this site for about 20 years.
At the meeting I discovered they are also in negotiations to buy more property directly across from the properties in question on Cannon Rd.
A rezoning as currently described will allow Nestles/Stouffers to ingress and egress through an area currently zoned residential. Regardless of selling the plan citywide, Ward 5 residents have the final say.