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Nestle USA wants to expand facility
(by Sue Reid - August 17, 2011)
Nestle USA wants to expand facility
By SUE REID
Nestle USA asked for support from the City of Solon Monday for an initiative petition for this November's ballot that would seek to rezone residential land to industrial to allow the business to expand.
Roberto Reniero, head of research and development for Nestle, told City Council of a project to expand the company's research and development facility in Solon on land the company has acquired through the years.
The land in question runs parallel to the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin Reservation and is at the corner of Cannon Road and Hawthorn Parkway.
"This is just a concept," Roz O'Hearn, Nestle spokesperson, said. There has not been any engineering done at this point, she said.
The goal is to expand the research and development portion of the business with the building of a product technology center. There are 29 of the centers worldwide, Ms. O'Hearn said, and they typically cost $50 million to $60 million to construct.
A global resource, the product technology center would allow Nestle's research and development segment to grow, Ms. O'Hearn noted, as well as advance the frozen food business Nestle is developing worldwide.
It would result in up to 60 additional professional and scientific jobs, Ms. O'Hearn said.
The rezoning is key in the project moving forward, she said. "It's completely dependent on that rezoning. If we don't have it, that project cannot move forward."
Mr. Reniero said that 1,500 signatures were collected and will be forwarded to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections to be verified.
A meeting for nearby residents in the 5th Ward was held before the council meeting, and there will be continued residents meetings so that the community is informed, Mr. Reniero said.
About 15 homes along Cannon Road are near the property to be rezoned, and approximately 30 additional homes are in the Brainard Road and Horseshoe Farms area.
Fifth Ward Councilwoman Nancy E. Meany said she is supportive of the plan and wants residents in her ward to have their issues addressed. An increase in traffic as a result of this project has been one of the issues raised by her constituents, she said.
"We certainly understand concerns of residents along Cannon," Ms. O'Hearn said. She said there will not be increased truck traffic on the road, and any trucks that would enter the facility would use the Harper Road truck gate, which is a process Nestle has followed for many years.
In addition, Ms. O'Hearn said, "We will communicate with vendors that they do not come down Cannon."
The area to be rezoned is buffered on one side by the Metroparks, and those trees would remain, Ms. O'Hearn said. On Cannon Road, there is another area with trees that Nestle would work to retain as part of the plan, she said.
Ms. O'Hearn noted that, because the employees at the product technology center are scientists and travel internationally 40 percent of the time, there would not be "150 cars traveling in every morning and rolling out every afternoon. It's a very fluid environment."
Mayor Susan A. Drucker said it is a "phenomenal opportunity" for the city and one she "fully supports." She said the plan is to have ongoing informational meetings for residents before the city would get behind the plan.
Law Director Thomas G. Lobe said it's an amazing opportunity for any city. "You will find it truly in the best interest of Solon," he said.
Mrs. Meany said the final decision lies with the voters.
"The bottom line is, it will be up to them to decide," she said.
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