2011 Solon Master Plan Citizen s Committee September 22, :00 p.m.

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1 2011 Solon Master Plan Citizen s Committee 7:00 p.m. The City of Solon Master Plan Citizen s Committee met at City Hall on the above date. Present: Citizen Members Eileen Siebert, Cindy Bomeli, Bob Neides, Marilyn Matia, Regina Olbinsky, Teresa Lichtcsien, David Gordon and; Planning Director Rob Frankland, Planner Linda Crombie and Secretary Cheryl Shackelford Absent: Citizen Members Gene Kotmel, Greg Rosenberg and Richard Perry Also present: Planning Commission Chairman Bill Mazur Mr. Frankland distributed a draft copy of the committee s Goal statements based upon the review and comments that were made at the last Master Plan Citizen s Committee meeting of August 18. Community Attitudes Survey Update Mr. Frankland informed the committee that the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission approved the contract with the city for the survey work. He plans to bring this item before Council at their Oct 3 meeting. Mr. Frankland said he tentatively scheduled Oct 13, 20, or 27 as possible meeting dates, so that representatives from the County could attend the next Master Plan meeting. The majority of the members present indicated that Thursday, October 13 would work best for them. Mr. Frankland said he would confirm that meeting date with the County and have an confirmation sent out to all the members. If any of the members cannot make the next meeting, he suggested they him with their suggestions concerning survey questions and/or concerns prior to the meeting date. Mr. Frankland explained that the questions included in the survey would collectively reflect the input from this committee as well as input from the Mayor, Planning Commission and City Council. In reply to Mrs. Matia s comments, Mr. Frankland said the survey would be random and a high number sampled. Mrs. Lichtcsien asked if it might be possible to utilize the internet versus regular mail to help lessen the costs. Mr. Frankland indicated that an internet survey would not qualify as a random sample, but said that the issue could be discussed with the county.

2 Page 2 of 6 Community Sign (displaying organizations) Request for input Mr. Frankland reviewed that based upon the committee s input given at a previous meeting, the majority of the members indicated that they do not want organizations placed on any new Welcome to Solon that would be located at the entry points to the city. Mr. Frankland asked the committee members for their input where the appropriate locations would be for community organization signs. He explained that the administration would like to move forward with organization signs and this issue is going before the Safety and Public Properties Committee. Mr. Frankland clarified that any new entry Welcome to Solon signs would probably total four, two on SOM Center and two on Aurora Road. Mrs. Lichtcsien reported that one can research welcome signage on the internet to view images of what other communities have done for ideas and She suggested the welcome signs could replicate elements from the gazebo into the design, and she noted that some welcome signs are capable of having a banner insert used to announce special events. In reply to the size and number of emblems, Mr. Frankland speculated that the sign would be approximately 10 by 10 and about 6 to 10 emblems would be displayed. Mrs. Olbinsky suggested the city consider a digital sign. Mrs. Siebert believes a digital sign would be more expensive. Mr. Frankland reminded the committee of the Master Plan recommendation to place an electronic message board sign on the SOM Center Road overpass. Mrs. Lichtcsien suggested the emblems could be mounted on the center post of the bridge (vertically stacked). She noted that she is tired of waiting on projects that would be good for the city. Mr. Frankland said he thought her suggestion has merit; however, the reworking of the bridge is a long-term plan there will not be funding available in the near term. Mr. Frankland asked the members for their recommendation on where the community signs should be located assuming a freestanding style of sign will be used. The committee as a whole liked the idea of vertically stacking the emblems on the center posts of the bridge, and Mr. Frankland pointed out the benefits of long-term master planning does help to promote such ideas at a future date when the funding for the project is available.

3 Page 3 of 6 The committee made their recommendation to support two or four freestanding community signs to be located at the entryways leading into the Central Retail District; reiterating that the committee is not in favor of having the emblems displayed on the Welcome to Solon signs, which the Master Plan recommends locating at the principle entrances to the city. Master Plan Goals Mr. Frankland distributed a handout of the committees Master Plan Goals based upon the discussion held at the last committee meeting of August 18. He asked the members to pay particular attention to the wording for Housing Opportunities and Parks & Recreation, since the committee members had requested he assist in the wording for those two goal statements. The following listing reflects the committee members latest updated goal statements. COMMERCIAL DESIGN STANDARDS Maintain the community character, identity, and aesthetic quality, through the implementation and enforcement of existing unifying design concepts throughout the City s commercially zoned areas. CENTER OF TOWN Continue the development of a pedestrian oriented Center of Town that will provide an attractive, recognizable focal point of community identity and which emphasizes and advances the historic character of the City of Solon. HISTORIC PRESERVATION Protect the City s heritage through the preservation of significant historical structures and features where feasible. SCHOOL DISTRICT COOPERATION Cooperate with the Solon School District to promote and maintain top quality public education opportunities for Solon s children. GREEN AREAS AND OPEN SPACES Protect and preserve the natural environment as an essential community asset. HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES - Promote housing opportunities to meet the unique preferences and needs of all age groups so as to enable residents to reside within Solon throughout the various stages of life. PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Maintain and improve the condition, viability, value, and appearance of the City s residential and non-residential building stock and neighborhoods. PARKS AND RECREATION - Optimize the use of existing park assets, particularly the Solon Community Park property, so as to enhance and

4 Page 4 of 6 expand quality recreational opportunities for all Solon residents in a cost effective manner. INDUSTRIAL MIX Attract and maintain an economically beneficial industrial mix, including emerging industries, in order to maximize future City revenues, expand the tax base, and prevent the tax burden on City homeowners from increasing. PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES Expand and improve safe pedestrian amenities in the Central Retail District, industrial, school districts, and residential areas. Identify needs for additional sidewalks and prioritize their development. TRAFFIC MITIGATION Improve the orderly flow of vehicular traffic and reduce traffic congestion, particularly along arterial streets, and within commercial and residential areas. ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS Implement multipurpose hike and bike trails to provide connections between neighborhoods, commercial districts, local and regional parks and green areas. RETAIL MIX Attract an appropriate mix of commercial goods and services to meet residents diverse shopping needs. COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL MIX Maintain proper balance between residential and non-residential developments while protecting residential boundaries from commercial encroachment. GOVERNMENT SERVICES Maintain and improve the high quality of municipal services, including the maintenance of public facilities and infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner. The committee took time to review a listing of open suggestions that were taken from previous meeting minutes and each member was given a copy of the same. A new goal statement that addresses Commercial Redevelopment. The committee members indicated that they do want a strong Commercial Redevelopment goal statement. Mr. Gordon suggested combining Commercial Redevelopment in with the Retail Mix goal statement. Mrs. Olbinsky felt a separate goal statement would have more impact. Mr. Frankland said he will review the meeting minutes and try to get a feel for what the committee would like the commercial redevelopment statement to say and try to the members a sampling of both alternatives (independent statement and combining it with Retail Mix) prior to the next meeting.

5 Page 5 of 6 Mrs. Matia commented on the unsightly appearance of the leasing signs that are throughout the city, and she asked if some type of uniformity could be established for temporary leasing signs. Mr. Frankland explained that the City cannot regulate sign content, per the first amendment. He recalled having discussions in the past on this same issue with Peggy Dorfman, Solon s Economic Development Manager. Currently, the code permits 32 s.f. of sign area for leasing signs. Mr. Frankland noted that it might be possible for the city to require a standardize framework be used, but further study would be needed. He indicated that businesses tend to oppose reducing maximum real estate sign size, despite the misleading impression that they cause relating to actual occupancy rates. Adding a statement for a connector road. Incorporate the need for a connector road into any new goal statement that pertains to the redevelopment of the Marc s/sears plaza. Mr. Frankland reminded the committee that for goal statements it is typical to use broader statements are used and the idea for a connector road is implied to reduce traffic under the Traffic Mitigation goal. Mr. Gordon suggesting adding the wording and/or provide alternate routes in the Traffic Mitigation statement and the members unanimously agreed. Available cemetery space; need to expand or not? Three out of the seven members present felt more cemetery space is needed. Mr. Frankland said he would check with Service Director Tom Bandiera to see what the actual numbers are. Everyone agreed this would be a good question for the Community Attitudes Survey. Create a new goal statement that addresses the need for improved safety for pedestrian walkways on SOM Center Road, specifically, at the Center of Town, and at or near Inwood Drive for the schools. The committee addressed this safety concern by modifying the PEDESTRIAN AMENITIES goal statement. Expanding land use for additional Assisted Living? The committee members agreed that Housing Opportunities goal statement covers assisting living. Mr. Neides suggested a master plan goal that addresses Regional Cooperation as long as it impacts the City of Solon in a positive way. The committee members requested Mr. Frankland assistance in writing a goal statement that counter acts the negativity that the business community perceives as Solon being a difficult city to work with. Mr. Frankland noted

6 Page 6 of 6 that Mayor Drucker is making great strides in this area, but unfortunately there still is some lingering misperception in the business world. Mr. Frankland thanked and complimented the members for all their work thus far. He explained that the next phase would involve work on the Community Attitudes Survey and that it might take two meetings with the county, and then the committee will probably meet again in 2012 after the results of the survey are in. Mr. Frankland reminded the members that tentatively, October 13 at 7:00 p.m. will be the next meeting and a confirmation will sent to all the members once he finalizes this date with the County. The committee meeting ended at 8:30 p.m.