Resident urges more tree planting; mayor outlines mini-forest, Green Team opportunities

At the March 2 Solon City Council meeting, resident Utsa Chaturvedi urged the city to expand tree planting across several neighborhoods and medians and offered to submit a detailed list of potential planting sites.

"I would like a sugar maple tree, which may be 60 to 80 foot high when it is one," Chaturvedi said, describing Morning Glory Circle and several cul-de-sacs and medians where she said trees are missing.

The mayor responded by thanking Chaturvedi and noting existing community efforts to improve the tree canopy. The mayor said the city has a Solon Green Team and a community relations group and announced plans for a mini-forest at Aurora and Liberty and additional tree planting in a "tree desert" along Aurora Road in the central retail area.

"We actually have one of the largest tree canopies in Cuyahoga County," the mayor said, while acknowledging there is "always room for improvement" and encouraging residents to participate in planting efforts through the Green Team.

Council members also offered to meet with the resident to review specific locations; one councilor said some areas may be homeowners association property and suggested following up after the meeting. The mayor and council framed the tree-planting discussion as part of broader community engagement, pairing environmental goals with volunteer opportunities.

Chaturvedi's request and the mayor's response link to stormwater and public-space goals discussed elsewhere on the agenda, including a stormwater master-plan MOU and a zoning code amendment intended to align city standards with Ohio EPA/NPDES requirements.

The council did not take formal action on specific tree-planting proposals at the meeting; the resident said she will submit a detailed list of sites for follow-up.