Opponents of HopeTree’s planned unit development rezoning hold signs asking at the Dec. 9 meeting asking Council to think again.
By Meg Hibbert
Contributing Writer
It was a replay of two earlier meetings: Mayor Renee Turk and Councilmembers Bill Jones and Randy Foley again voted in favor of HopeTree Family Services Planned Unit Development zoning that would allow up to more than 300 homes plus a small hotel, convenience store and restaurant.
Vice Mayor Jim Wallace and Councilman Hunter Holliday again voted against it.
Opponents packed the Dec. 9 Salem City Council meeting. Many held signs saying “Please give the neighbors fair hearing,” “We need a fair mayor!” “Our concerns warrant investigating not dismissals,” “No vote until citizens’ concerns are addressed by unbiased third-party professionals,” and “Reminder: All five members of Salem Council are obligated to protect the public peace, health, safety and welfare.”
HopeTree, the 135-year-old institution founded as Virginia Baptist Orphanage, then the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home, intends to sell acreage and some existing buildings to developer Stateson Homes. That firm plans to build up to 340 homes, patio homes and apartments on 34 acres.
HopeTree intends to keep about 21 acres where the administration building is located, in addition to HopeTree Academy for area students who need individual instruction, and small group homes for developmentally delayed adults.
No date has been set for construction to begin. Stateson representatives estimate the project could stretch over 10 yeaars.
Monday night’s Council vote was on a second reading of the PUD rezoning request that was largely perfunctory for a legal name change after a June vote on the application.
HopeTree land was zoned single-family residential until now, and HopeTree CEO Jon Morris pointed out with no zoning change, up to 200 homes could be built with individual driveways opening on existing streets.
Residents of North Broad Street, Academy Street, Red Lane, Mount Vernon, Carrollton and other nearby streets have for months expressed concerns about increased traffic, runoff from construction, truck traffic during construction on narrow neighborhood streets, and lowered home value of nearby homes.
During the Citizen Comment portion at the beginning of Monday night’s meeting, North Broad Street resident Stella Reinhard again pleaded for Council to give citizens more time to discuss their concerns, and to wait until two new members – Anne Marie Green and John Saunders – take office in January. Both have said they would vote differently on the HopeTree proposal.
Turk, Foley and Holliday remain on Council.
Before the vote, Holliday thanked citizens for meeting with him to express their concerns. He read a statement asking if Salem “actually needs a PUD. I’m not against it,” he said, but wondered if another location would be better. Holliday added he had visited Stateson Builders’ developments in Black Mountain, N.C., and in Daleville, which, he said, are different than what is planned for Salem.
“I have seen PUDs in Northern Virginia that had easy access to public transportation,” he said. “HopeTree has none of these.”
Reinhard said East Salem residents had been given more meetings to talk with Council about changes in their neighborhood, particularly apartments now nearing completion on the site of the former Valleydale Meat Packing plant.
She and most of the neighborhood opponents left the meeting after Council’s vote.
In other items, Council heard from:
- Garry Lautenschlager, Secretary of Salem Area Ecumenical Ministries and Cindy Neathawk, SAEM board chair, thanked Council for contributions, along with those from local businesses, community groups and individuals that allowed SAEM to provide more than 9,000 meals for students and families and clothing for more than 14,270 last year. Lautenschlager said many families in Salem continue to live in poverty, with 97 percent of those served earning less than $25,000 annually;
- Salem School Board member Teresa Sizemore expressed thanks Council and the School Board continue to work together. She noted Salem is one of 10 or 11 jurisdictions that have appointed rather than elected school boards;
- Eddie Hite, representing volunteers from last week’s NCAA volleyball tournament in Salem, noted Salem’s benefits from hosting such tournaments include players and families eating at Salem restaurants and staying locally. Volunteers hosted families, he pointed out;
- Terry LaRocco, a retired government teacher, spoke on a positive note, she said, commending Council for its hard work over the last four years. “We need to educate people on what the city gets accomplished on a regular basis: electricity restored within minutes, snow removal, and other activities that make life better for all of us.” She thanked each member, and said, “I know you are working and voting within the best interests of Salem citizens at heart.”
In other actions Council:
- Voted 3-2, with Holliday and Wallace dissenting, to raise Council and Mayor’s salaries starting July 1, 2027;
- Approved unanimously, on second reading to adopt a container ordinance regulating size, how long and where they can be located;
- Adopted Spot Blight Abatement regulations of historic structures. “I’m glad we’re finally going to get this done,” said Vice Mayor Wallace. “I think this will make a big difference.”
It was the last meeting for Wallace, who was not re-elected after four years, and Jones, who is retiring from Council after 16 years. Mayor Turk thanked both of them and added, “Bill Jones cares for Salem and Salem people.”
Council went into a closed session at 7:21, with no action expected, Turk said. Incoming Councilman Anne Marie Green went into the closed session with Councilmembers.
