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Preliminary plan on way for Solar Center
(by Sue Reid - July 22, 2009)
Preliminary plan on way for Solar Center
By SUE REID
Solon Planning Director Robert S. Frankland told planning commission members last week that he hopes to have a preliminary development agreement and plan for the Solar Center shopping plaza to them by their next meeting.
Commission members tabled a request at last week's meeting to rezone certain parcels to C-3 and C-4 zoning districts. Perlick-Caplan, owner of the Solar Center at the southeast corner of SOM Center (Route 91) and Aurora (Route 43) roads, has proposed zoning changes that would allow for a reconstructed Giant Eagle on-site, a tear-down of 75 percent of the plaza and an arrangement of parcels along the perimeter of the site. A Get-Go gas station would be part of the plan but would require a zoning change.
To lease a small section that would be a gas station, zoning needs to be changed from C-3, general retail, to C-4, motor-service commercial. Shopping center owners would be asking for a C-3 zoning change for properties they own east of the plaza, which is zoned for offices.
Mr. Frankland said that having it before the commission at its next meeting would meet the time lines required to get the rezoning on the November ballot. The commission meets at 7:30 p.m. July 28.
"We need the plat to see what parcels are considered for rezoning," commission member Roger C. Newberry said.
Commission member William M. Mazur said, "The more time we have to look at this the better." The commission doesn't want to rush it, he said.
Mr. Frankland agreed. He said he could send the commission a preliminary agreement soon. He said he and Mayor Kevin C. Patton met for six hours that morning with principals involved in the redevelopment project.
"The key to this project is a development agreement," Councilman and commission member Lon D. Stolarsky said. "The planning commission will ultimately make a recommendation as to whether or not we recommend placing this zoning on the ballot."
Mr. Stolarsky said it is not inconceivable that it be passed along with the contingency that we have a development agreement before it is placed on the ballot.
"There may be some discussion regarding desired placement of the Get-Go," Mr. Stolarsky said. However, developers are looking at other existing gas-station sites in town, he said.
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