Nestle Shows R&D Facility Designs, Hopes To Finish Building in Two Years

officials were treated to breakfast and a glimpse at new designs for the global research and design center wants to build in Solon.

The global company, which is one of Solon's largest employers, wants to build the center off of Cannon Road to support its frozen food businesses.

The visit to Nestle's decked-out culinary center on Bainbridge Road comes after Solon voters a rezoning in November that will make construction of the facility possible.

Vice Mayor Ed Kraus said he didn't want to come to Nestle only to be thanked for supporting the rezoning effort, and he feels company officials have worked hard since the vote.

For starters, Kraus said he believes Nestle "has zeroed in" on Solon, and the fact that officials are bringing the plans to the company's corporate offices in Switzerland is a positive sign.

"From the election until now, I feel they've done their homework," Kraus said.

The next step in the governmental approval process for Nestle is to submit officials plans to Solon's planning department and go through the approval process with city's council's various committees.

Roberto Reniero, head of R&D for Nestle, said the company hopes to begin working on detailed engineering drawings in February and submit plans to the city in a few months.

The company hopes to have the the building complete by the end of 2013, but will remain flexible depending on how things work out, Reniero said.

Nestle officials served breakfast to Solon Mayor Susan Drucker, the full city council and members of the senior staff. They showed pictures of some of the design concepts for the building and answered questions for council members.

Stay tuned to Solon Patch for more on this story as it develops.

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