83% of Solon voters OK special-needs zoning
SOLON, Ohio -- Ara Bagdasarian, co-founder of Solon Community Living with his wife, Leslie, believes the passage of Issue 19 will create a unique opportunity for city residents who have disabilities. “It could potentially be groundbreaking zoning,” Bagdasarian said. “We’re so pleased with the outcome and grateful for Solon to give us the opportunity to move ahead.” Issues 18 and 19 both passed decisively in the vote-by-mail primary election Tuesday (April 28), held after the March 17 election was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Issue 19 creates a new zoning district in the city, a multifamily residential and special-needs [...]
Proponent of Issue 19 in Solon takes postponement of election in stride
Ara and Leslie Bagdasarian, co-founders of the proposed Solon Community Living project, will have to wait a few more months to see if Issue 19 will pass in Solon after the postponement of the primary election scheduled for Tuesday (March 17). (Ed Wittenberg, special to cleveland.com) SOLON, Ohio – Monday (March 16) was an emotional roller coaster for Ara and Leslie Bagdasarian, co-founders of Solon Community Living. They were prepared for the primary election Tuesday (March 17), with Issue 19 on the ballot. The issue would create a new zoning district in the city, a multifamily residential [...]
Special needs zoning in Solon, Orange Schools levy among issues on March 17 ballot
This family portrait of the Bagdasarians of Solon was taken at a Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities meeting in January. From left, they are Ara, Alex, Julie and Leslie. (Photo Courtesy of Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities) SOLON, Ohio -- Solon voters have an opportunity to approve a zoning classification that would be unique to Northeast Ohio -- and possibly beyond Ohio -- in the March 17 primary election. Issue 19 would create a new zoning district in the city, a multi-family residential and special needs classification called R-3-C. It would be implemented for properties at [...]
Vote yes on Issue 19
As parents, we all want to protect our children. For some of us, that constant concern will gradually subside as our kids grow to become more independent and self-sufficient. But when you are the parent of a child with special needs, that concern will never go away. Your child will always need care, even as an adult, and the question of who will provide that care becomes more worrisome as time goes on. Solon Community Living has set out to create a safe housing neighborhood for individuals with special needs. And while this development would be the first of its [...]
Solon voters should support Issue 19
On March 17, Solon voters have a unique opportunity to be a leader and a difference maker for those with special needs. Issue 19 would create special needs zoning for a site near the Solon Community Center, just west of Portz Parkway and Aurora Road. This zoning would pave the way for a project featuring 12 high-quality town homes on a community-accessible location that will improve the quality of life for those with disabilities. We need this, we should have this, and now we have the opportunity to do this with voter approval! I do not have any children with [...]
Support housing for all Solon residents: Vote yes on Issue 19
Voters will be given the opportunity to vote yes on Issue 19 on March 17. This issue will allow for rezoning for a critically needed, high-quality housing project for Solon residents who have special needs. As the parents of a 21-year-old with significant disabilities, we are aware of the difficulty in finding professionally staffed, local housing close to many of the amenities we already access. We have an amazing opportunity to have this happen in our community with this project. Keep Solon amazing! Thank you to the Solon City Council and the Solon Planning Commission for supporting this high-quality town-home [...]
Solon voters: Please support zoning for special needs housing
As the recently retired coordinator of the Solon Blue Ribbon Adapted Recreation Program within the Solon Recreation Department, I’m asking that you vote for Issue 19 on the March 17 ballot. Issue 19 will allow the development of quality housing for those citizens with disabilities, on the corner of Aurora Road and Portz Parkway, ensuring access to community resources, particularly the Solon Community Center. This initiative highlights the attitude of Solon in re-imagining an even better Solon by celebrating diversity, in working, living and thriving together. A critical concern of families who care for a family member with special needs [...]
Vote YES on Solon’s Issue 19
I am the mother of two adult sons with Fragile X Syndrome. We have lived in Solon for over 24 years, and I have helped to create numerous local programs to assist people with disabilities to have meaningful lives in their own community. Although it was very difficult, we were able to establish a home where our sons are happy and safe. Other families have similar needs and continually search for a solution to this very difficult problem. Solon Community Living is in the early stages of trying to establish multi-unit, high-quality housing for adults with special needs. The families [...]
Support Solon Issue 19
We have lived in Solon for the past 23 years and are asking you to vote in the upcoming March primary on a zoning issue that represents the best of Solon and is also very personal to our family – that of approving new R-3-C zoning for special needs housing at the southwest corner of Aurora Road and Portz Parkway. We appreciate how the Solon City School District has successfully brought our two children up through its ranks, reflecting its commitment to serving its students, whatever their needs: our older daughter has been living and working in South Africa for [...]
Vote yes for Issue 19: special needs zoning in Solon
As longtime Solon residents, we ask that you vote in the upcoming March primary to approve a new R-3-C zoning for special needs housing at the southwest corner of Aurora Road and Portz Parkway. We appreciate how Solon Schools has served our two daughters’ diverse needs -- one who benefited from a challenging curriculum, and one with special needs who thrived in Solon’s programming designed for students like her. Now the City of Solon continues to show support for diversity by creating zoning aligning with its master plan calling for “housing opportunities to meet the unique preferences and needs of [...]