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Historic district leads way for master plan
(by Mike Klimko - November 12, 2008)
Historic district leads way for master plan
By MIKE KLIMKO
A product of the master plan commission convened in recent years has been evident in development planned in the historic commercial district, according to Solon Planning Director Robert S. Frankland.
More results will emerge in the coming year, including three or more chapters of the master plan, beginning with commercial and industrial development, Mr. Frankland said.
A review of the plan was required as part of a charter amendment approved by voters in November 2005. The planning director and the commission are charged with amending and revising the plan every six years, beginning in January 2011.
The charter requires review by the planning commission and City Council of the conclusions of the planning director and citizen members of the master plan commission. The charter requires the planning commission and council to rely on the tenets of the master plan.
According to the charter, "After the master plan has been approved by City Council, the planning commission and City Council shall consult with the master plan and adhere to its recommendations to the extent reasonable and practical in performing their duties and exercising their powers."
The previous master plan was completed in 1975, not by city officials but by a forerunner of the Cuyahoga County planning commission, Mr. Frankland said. Solon did not implement that plan, he said.
Work by the planning department on the new master plan resumed with the withdrawal of the Central Park redevelopment project last month by the Coral Co., he said. "Now that the Coral project is gone, I've been working on the master plan. I plan to release the plan in phases during the year," he said.
"The first phase in January or February will be the commercial and industrial plan. The next would be the residential plan. After that would be the public infrastructure. The phasing of the chapters would be for discussion as the year goes on," Mr. Frankland said.
"The city has never implemented the first master plan. The last one was about 30 years ago. This was implemented in the zoning code. What people might not understand is the master plan is implemented through the zoning code."
The master plan can be seen in the historic commercial district, including the plans for office and retail development on the north side of Bainbridge Road, west of SOM Center Road, Mr. Frankland said.
Concepts developed by the previous master plan commission were applied in the upgrading of the zoning code proposed in 2003 and adopted in 2005, Mr. Frankland said.
The zoning code in 2003 did not provide city officials with a guideline for the design of new development in historic commercial district, he said, although the city was looking at creating rather than preserving historic buildings.
City officials intended to preserve residences near Bainbridge and Solon roads and planned for buildings that would resemble construction at in the end of the 19th century, such as the Old City Hall building, he said in a report to the planning commission.
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