SOLON, Ohio -- City Council has approved several amendments to Solon’s zoning code to permit animal day care centers in all zones in the central retail district, which currently allows pet stores as a permitted use.
On Monday (March 20), council passed an ordinance to amend four chapters of the zoning code to permit such day care centers in the C-1 (historic commercial), C-2 (restricted commercial), C-3-A (commercial shopping center) and C-6 (general commercial) zoning districts.
A public hearing on this topic was held before council voted; no one from the public spoke.
Council passed the ordinance with no discussion, other than noting that it was ready to move forward on first reading after the public hearing.
The city’s planning department had recommended this update to the zoning code “in the interests of economic development and the future growth of the city,” senior planner Nick Parks said in a memo to council in early March.
“Similar businesses in surrounding areas are often permitted in retail districts, with conditions regarding outdoor dog exercising, waste management and noise reduction,” Parks said in his memo.
The term “animal day care” shall be considered to be distinct from commercial dog kennels, Parks added.
Angee Shaker, the city’s director of economic development, also sent a memo to council in support of the planning department’s recommendation.
Shaker said permitting this use in the city’s commercial areas would be good for economic development.
In her memo, Shaker said the demand for owning a dog surged during the coronavirus pandemic, and pet ownership and pet spending have increased dramatically in the last decade.
“By not permitting animal day care services, Solon residents have to go to businesses outside of our city to get this type of care for their pets,” she said.
“Businesses such as animal day care centers will help reduce vacancies in our commercial areas.”
Request referred to committee
In other action, council referred a request to install a plaque at an athletic field at Solon Community Park to honor longtime city resident Gil Novak to its Safety and Public Properties Committee for review.
The request came from the Babes of 1916, a Solon-based men’s senior softball league, in which Novak was very involved.
Novak, who was also very active with the Solon Senior Center, died last May at age 92.
The field where the plaque is sought was renamed Gil Novak Field during the Solon Home Days festival last July.
Vice Mayor and Ward 5 Councilwoman Nancy Meany said a majority of council felt it was appropriate to refer the request to the committee in accordance with the city’s new naming rights procedure policy, which was approved in December.
David Kulka, president of the Babes of 1916, told council that the league seeks “an appropriate tribute to one of our longtime members and good friends, Gil Novak, to bring his memory to light in the city.”
Specifically, Kulka said, the league is looking to erect a plaque either on or near the backstop of Field No. 4 at the park in Novak’s honor.
The plaque would be no larger than two feet by three feet and be made of durable material to handle weather issues, according to information provided to the city by Kulka.
John Patram, treasurer of the Babes of 1916, said the league has come up with a suggested design for the plaque that it would like the city to consider. Patram showed council what the design could look like.
In the shape of home plate, the proposed plaque reads: “Gil Novak Field: For his dedication to the City of Solon and the Babes of 1916.”
Novak managed a Babes of 1916 softball team for 17 years and served as league president for 10 years, according to information provided by Kulka.
Novak received the city’s Senior of the Year award in 2005.
The Safety and Public Properties Committee’s next meeting will be at 6 p.m. April 12.
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