Economic Development Department

City Business News

March , 2010

IN THE WORKS

I-1 ZONING AMENDMENT – Following a February 16th public hearing, Council approved sending to the May ballot amendments to the I-1 Industrial Warehousing District Zoning Ordinance to transition the district from office/warehouse to light industrial and permitting additional uses.  The I-1 District is located in the northwest corner of the city and includes Naiman Parkway.  The City’s goal is to promote greater economic activity while providing greater protection for the adjacent property owners than exists under the current zoning.  In addition to uses currently permitted, a new “light industrial” zoning would permit printing and publishing, paratransit uses, trade and business schools, sports training facilities, medical and dental offices, research and development, manufacturing, compounding, processing, packaging, storage, assembly, and/or treatment of finished or semi-finished products from previously prepared materials, as long as activities are conducted within an enclosed building.  Machining would be permitted with restrictions as an accessory use.  Operational restrictions and performance standards would be greater than those for other non-residential districts, including no trash pickup from 7 p.m.–7 a.m., and noise levels that are 5 decibels less at the property line than permitted in other non-residential districts.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – The City of Solon co-sponsored a very successful “Exporting to India” program presented by the Summit County Mayors Association and SGI Global Advisors.  Various local Chambers of Commerce supported the program, including the Solon Chamber of Commerce.  Among the 180 registrants were several Solon businesses.

SIGN REGULATIONS – The Planning Commission and Council are studying revisions to the sign code to remove content restrictions.  Regulations for sign size, color, message frequency, lighting, etc. are under consideration.  The proposed revisions would permit business names on directional signage, which currently may not contain advertising material.

BAINBRIDGE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION – Utility companies continue to reconnect service lines along Bainbridge Road from Route 91 to Liberty Road.  Although scheduled to begin April 1st, construction may begin in March if weather permits, in the area from Route 91 to the front of Solon Center for the Arts. 

SOLON ROAD SIDEWALKS – This project has been rescheduled for 2011 for budgetary reasons and to keep Solon Road available as a detour route for Pettibone Road construction.  The project involves the installation of sidewalks on the south side of Solon Road from Aurora to Cochran Roads.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS – The City has received $7,000,000 from the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency to upgrade or replace all 46 traffic signals throughout the City.  The funds are from NOACA’s congestion mitigation and air quality program.  The closed loop signal system will be replaced with a central based control system, using the latest technology such as video detection, fiberoptic interconnect and emergency pre-emption.  Detailed design work will begin later this year.