Public hearing on proposed W‑1 winery district draws hours of testimony; council leaves record open

The Solon City Council left a public hearing open on a proposed W‑1 winery zoning district for a 20‑acre parcel at 37500 Aurora Road after more than an hour of testimony from residents, business owners and the applicants.

The proposal, introduced as pending ordinance 2025‑93, would create a new winery zoning classification and apply it to the parcel. Developers Michael Sioka and Matt Ciocha, who addressed the council with architect Tim Ruzick, told the council they expect manufacturing, a bakery/restaurant and event space; they said residences originally in a prior plan were removed.

Why it matters: supporters said the winery would bring evening and weekend customers to downtown Solon and create landscaped green space; opponents said the site is surrounded by single‑family homes, and they warned of late‑hour operations, car headlights and safety risks for adjacent neighborhoods and schoolchildren.

Residents who spoke cited traffic and safety concerns. John Sendereck, a Highland Drive resident, said the project would disrupt the privacy and green space of roughly 25 adjacent lots and asked council members to “ask yourself the question: if this was in my backyard, would I vote for it?”

Several neighbors pressed for specifics about buffers and fencing. Debbie Stephanie, who said she lives next door to the parcel, asked whether a previously discussed 6‑foot fence had been removed in favor of arborvitae plantings. Applicant representatives said the plan still shows a 6‑foot privacy fence on the east side, 4‑foot mounding and dense evergreen plantings including 8‑foot arborvitae; they said they moved parking and drive aisles south and reduced paved area and that wooded canopy on the site would remain.

Supporters included business owners and people who had toured the applicant’s existing winery. Resident Saivar Thordarsan, who identified himself as a local business owner, said more attractions would bring customers into Solon and benefit local businesses: “If we had an attraction such as the winery that would bring people in… I think it's only gonna benefit all of us.”

Developers said the current site plan includes 316 parking stalls, extensive landscape islands, detention moved to a lower area of the site, and that all housing originally proposed has been removed. Architect Tim Ruzick said the plan keeps most of the existing woods and has increased planting and screening around the parking area.

Council action and next steps: Councilman Bentley and other members said they wanted to keep the public hearing open; Mayor Krause confirmed the hearing will remain open and resume at the council’s next meeting (June 16). No zoning change or vote occurred; council members and staff said they would continue to accept public comment and review site details.

Public comments, applicant responses and planning department materials will remain part of the record for the council’s continued review.