By Meg Hibbert
Contributing Writer
Once again opponents crowded into Salem City Council Chambers to ask Council to delay a vote on proposed Planned Unit Development rezoning to the historic HopeTree campus in North Salem.
And again at the Nov. 25 meeting, there was a split 3-2 vote to approve a slightly changed zoning request, with Mayor Renee Turk and Councilmembers Randy Foley and Bill Jones voting for it.
Vice Mayor Jim Wallace and Councilman Hunter Holliday again voted against it.
The revised plan was largely only a to correct procedure and reflect a name change to conform to legal requirements, the mayor pointed out. Council approved PUD rezoning in September, with the same split vote.
Holliday had made a motion to table the vote until Council meets in January with two new members, Anne Marie Green and former Councilman John Saunders taking seats now held by Wallace, who was defeated in the November election, and Jones who is retiring from Council. The motion did not carry.
Family Service’s controversial project rezones the historic former Virginia Baptist Children’s Home 62 acres bordered by North Broad Street, Red Lane and Carrollton Avenue.
HopeTree plans to sell 37 acres to developer Stateson Homes to build up to 340 single family, patio homes and apartments, and convert a few existing and unused HopeTree buildings for a boutique hotel, small restaurant and convenience store.
HopeTree was founded 134 years ago as the Virginia Baptist Orphanage.
Holliday read a prepared statement that asked, in part, for the HopeTree PUD be amended to limit heavy equipment working only Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m; snowplowing be overseen by the city, Salem Police and fire to have access to HopeTree’s private roads.
“We can’t afford to pay for the things we’ve got going on now,” Holliday said. “We think the taxes the city is going to get will not offset the costs,” he added, and surrounding homes are going to lose value. I’m not against PUD zoning. I just think this is the wrong place for it,” he concluded.
Holliday and his wife live near HopeTree.
In other matters at the Nov. 25 meeting, Council:
- Voted to raise Council and Mayor’s salaries, under new guidelines from the Virginia General Assembly. Salaries would almost double, with up to $22,000 for Councilmembers and $24,000 for the mayor, who is elected by Council peers. Currently the mayor’s salary is $13,000 and Councilmembers’ is $12,000. Vice Mayor Wallace opposed the idea, saying “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. I think it’s a bad idea…It may attract people who just want the money.” The increases would not take effect until July 2027.
- Held a public hearing on regulations regarding storage containers, including their placement, how long they can be on property and no signage.
The meeting ended at 7:45. The last Council meeting of the year will be Dec. 9. Council voted previously to eliminate the Dec. 23 meeting because of its proximity to Christmas Day.
