By Meg Hibbert
Contributing Writer
At the Feb. 12 meeting, Salem City Council appropriated a $10,000 state grant with local match for downtown tourism. It is from the Microbusiness Marketing Leverage Program awarded by the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Council approved moving the matching money from the city’s tourism operating budget.
The vote was 4-0, with Councilman Hunter Holliday participating remotely and Councilman Bill Jones absent.
Council also appropriated $125,000 for Upland Drive storm drain and curb and gutter improvements, transferring the funds from the general fund and to the Capital Projects Fund.
Council also approved rezoning requests Monday night during a routine meeting.
Councilmembers unanimously approved, on second reading, a request to:
- Rezone 1236 W. Main Street from Highway Business District to Community Business District in order to have an apartment on the second floor for employees of the nail art business;
- Rezone 416 Electric Road from Highway Business District to Heavy Manufacturing. Community Development Director Chuck Van Allman explained the lot north of the former General Electric plant doesn’t match surrounding zoning as HBD.
Council set March 11 for the yearly public hearing for taxicab licenses.
Appointments were made to appoint Paul C. Kuhnel and J. David Robbins for four year-terms on the city’s Economic Development Authority. Council also appointed Pat Dew for a three-term on the Fair Housing board, and John Shaner for a three-year term on the board of the Local Office on Aging.
Council ended the 30-minute regular meeting with a closed session, to discuss investment of public funds. No action was expected, Mayor Renee Turk said.
On Wednesday, Feb. 21, Council will meet with the Salem Planning Commission and HopeTree Family Services representatives and consultants, for a work session about HopeTree’s Planned Unit Development ideas to sell half of the former Virginia Baptist Children’s Home greenspace property at the end of North Broad Street and Red Lane, and have it developed for housing and commercial purposes.
That joint work session will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Salem Civic Center. Although citizens can attend, there will be no public comment period.
This Wednesday after press time, the Salem Planning Commission was scheduled to hold a public hearing on HopeTree’s plans, also at the Civic Center.
Speakers were limited to three minutes each. HopeTree plan opponents said some of the speakers intended to waive their three minutes and allow others to take that time.
Planning Commission members said no rezoning decision would be made on Feb. 14.
