Charter Review Commission urges master plan update, proposes economic development director and zoning reforms

The Solon Charter Review Commission delivered a package of recommendations to the Solon City Council Tuesday night, asking the city to start a new master‑plan process, consider enshrining a full‑time economic development director in the charter and revise the city's zoning referendum rules.

Matt Rosner, chairman of the Charter Review Commission, summarized the commission's work since February and said members reached an unusually high level of agreement on the proposals. "Every proposal presented for consideration'was carefully evaluated and thoroughly discussed," Rosner said, noting subcommittee work and outreach to the administration.

Cochair Bradley Nitis presented the commission's first major recommendation: require initiation of a new master plan in 2027 and add biennial checkpoints to keep future decisions aligned with the adopted vision. Nitis said the current master plan had become overly technical and "rather than serving as a clear vision document" it had grown into a compilation of project‑level detail. The commission proposed the updated plan focus on land‑use priorities, infrastructure capacity and economic development goals.

Council members expressed support for streamlining the plan but variously described the master plan as both a guide and, in some past cases, a binding tool for planning decisions. After discussion, council voted to have legislation prepared implementing the commission's master‑plan language and to continue public debate.

The commission also proposed creating a chartered director of economic development, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by council, to lead business retention, attraction and redevelopment efforts. Nitis said the change would ensure continuity and professionalism. Several council members questioned whether embedding the position in the charter was prudent: one councilor warned that a future inability to find an affordable, qualified full‑time candidate could create a compliance issue, while another suggested placing detailed duties in codified ordinances or a job description instead. The council voted to have legislation drafted and to continue consideration with public input.

On zoning, the commission proposed allowing council to approve modest residential rezonings without triggering a citywide referendum, arguing the referendum requirement can delay reinvestment and deter developers. The panel also presented two options to reform Solon's distinctive ward‑veto system: option A would keep the veto but require 30% turnout in a ward to overturn a citywide approval; option B would eliminate the ward veto entirely and let voters decide on a simple yes/no question. Advocates said the changes would prevent a small number of ward voters from blocking citywide voter decisions; opponents cautioned that the proposals could disenfranchise local voices and should be clarified with the board of elections. Council moved to prepare legislation on the residential rezoning change and to advance option 4b (a yes/no ballot measure on the ward veto). Members also approved scheduling public hearings to solicit wider resident input.

Council repeatedly emphasized that preparing legislation does not guarantee final charter text: legal review, additional public hearings and potential edits will follow. The council scheduled public hearings and asked staff and the law director to assist in drafting ballot language and legal analysis. The next steps will include additional readings at regular council meetings before any charter amendment would be placed before voters.

The council's actions Tuesday create a multi‑step process: staff will draft legislation, the law department will review legal language and the council will hold public hearings before deciding whether to send amendments to the ballot.