Even If Nestle Vote Passes, Company Faces Long Administrative Road

Even if Solon residents vote in favor of rezoning land for Nestle's proposed research and development facility, the company still has a long road through the city bureaucracy before it can build.

The vote on Nov. 8 does not give Nestle permission to build the facility. It only rezones the land from residential to industrial. If Solon voters vote against the rezoning, then Nestle won't be able to submit plans because the land will remain as residential property.

But if voters approve the rezoning, that's when the process really begins, said Solon Planning Director Rob Frankland.

What do you think about Nestle's plans?

Nestle will have to submit a variety of plan to the city for approval, ranging from design plans to landscaping to stormwater runoff.

The project would be vetted by city planners as well as a number of city commissions, including planning and public works.

Public hearings will be held on the project, both at the planning commission level and, ultimately, at city council, which will issue a final decision.

Frankland said that Nestle officials want to start construction in spring, which means the process will have to move quickly considering the scope of the project.

"It will be a pretty comprehensive review," he said.