By Meg Hibbert
Contributing Writer
Salem City Council approved four zoning changes on first reading at Monday night’s council meeting.
It was the second meeting held in the Andrew Lewis Middle School Auditorium. Because state and local declarations of emergency during the COVID pandemic have been lifted, Council meetings will return to Council Chambers for the second meeting in July and afterwards.
Salem City Manager Jay Taliaferro said Council will meet July 12 at Salem High School for a joint session with the Salem School Board.
At the start of Monday night’s meeting, Salem Police Officer Jonathan Detzler introduced five new officers who have completed their training field and are going into the field. They are Jarod Bridges, Aaron Haynes, Christopher Hayth, Matt Duhon and Hannah Rich.
Zoning requests approved on first reading were from:
- Bethel Baptist Church from Residential Single-Family District to Highway Business District in order to replace an old sign that cannot be repaired;
- Peter R. and Vivian D. Fields to rezone 303-305 South Colorado St. from Residential Multi-Family to Transitional Business District. Peter Fields explained they want to renovate the building for a hair salon. He said it was built in the 1960s as a dental office;
- MCLIP Properties LLC to rezone property at 901 S. Colorado St. and 110 7th from Light Manufacturing District to Community Business District. Mayor Renee Turk pointed out the building has recently been designated for the local historical registry. Leslie McVey, who works for the owners, explained the property had been vacant for a couple of years:
- Timothy J. and Lonzie L. Linkous Jr. for a Special Exception Permit for property at 335 Roanoke Boulevard to be used as a duplex.
A fifth special exemption permit request was withdrawn by petitioner Total Motion Performance to allow athletic instruction services at 773 Union St.
Council also received the abstract of votes cast in the June 8 Democratic Party Primary Election.
The meeting lasted 25 minutes.
