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Nestle project labeled as 'win, win, lose'
(by Sue Reid - October 19, 2011)
Nestle project labeled as 'win, win, lose'
By SUE REID
Cannon Road resident Greg Crough told Solon City Council Monday that residents of the 5th Ward are being asked to bear the burden of Nestle USA's proposed expansion.
He called the project a "win, win, lose," situation, with the city and Nestle being the winners and 5th Ward residents being the losers.
Mr. Crough spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting about the rezoning associated with the project, and which will be before Solon voters as Issue 95 on the Nov. 8 ballot.
In the audience were a handful of residents from the ward.
Mr. Crough said he does not think that efforts have been exhausted to find other industrially zoned land for Nestle. Instead, they have chosen a "peaceful, residential area in a park-like setting," he said.
Nestle is seeking to rezone residential land southeast of Cannon Road and Hawthorn Parkway to industrial in order to construct a product technology center on 18 acres.
Roz O'Hearn, spokesperson for Nestle, said Tuesday that other locations in the city could have been considered. Nestle acquired the Keithley Building on Bainbridge Road and began moving employees into that facility late last year, she said. "Nestle has pursued already available buildings, and we retrofitted for our use. Our Nestle employees are very happy in the new quarters."
However, for the proposed product technology center, which would include labs, kitchens, office workspace and a pilot plant, "there are specific requirements that must be met," she said. "Our experts evaluated all of these considerations and concluded our needs would be best served with new construction on the property we own," Ms. O'Hearn said.
The project would change the complete feel of the neighborhood, Mr,. Crough said. Asking the 5th Ward residents to vote yes is doing an "injustice" to them, he said.
"Once the land is zoned I-2 there, they can build anything they want," Mr. Crough said. This would be "opening the floodgates," he said.
Ms. O'Hearn said the goal is to create a new global research and development facility, which will serve Nestle's worldwide frozen and chilled food businesses. She said the largest of those businesses are already based in Solon, "so it's sensible that Nestle would make additional and significant investment in our home community."
Ms. O'Hearn said, in order for Nestle to build the product technology center on the property, "the rezoning must be achieved."
Mr. Crough said he hopes residents of the city think of the long-term consequences an affirmative vote would result in.
He said the city is being "naive" if it thinks that the 60 employees Nestle said would be housed in the proposed building of 120,000 to 150,000 square feet would not grow. "There could be 150 employees in a building of that size, and it would still be a ghost town," he said.
Ms. O'Hearn said the current research and development staff numbers 80. "We would plan to add 40 to 60 new jobs with the creation of the PTC," she said. "That would bring eventual total research and development employment from 120 to 160, if rezoning is accomplished so we can build the PTC in Solon."
Councilwoman Nancy E. Meany said following the meeting that she is encouraging residents to attend the open houses held by Nestle to address their questions and concerns. One was held earlier this month, and the second is slated for tonight (Oct. 20) from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Nestle Bainbridge building, 30003 Bainbridge Road.
"It's important for the public to be educated and have an idea what's going on," Ms. Meany said. She said there may even be newer drawings at tonight's open house. "It's a work in progress for them," she said.
She also noted that if the rezoning passes, that does not mean the end of the issue. "The city and myself will be very, very involved in this project," she said, and in trying to put a "good building in this area.
"The city will be very actively involved with Nestle and with the residents," Ms. Meany said. "It doesn't just end once the property is rezoned."
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