Meg Hibbert
Contributing writer
After a two-week delay, Salem City Council unanimously passed a 20-year Comprehensive Plan as a development guideline for the city.
“Back to the Future 2025” was developed by staff with input from citizens at several workshops over the last year. A public hearing was held in November and an open house discussion with looks at detail maps the week before the vote. Last week’s meeting was delayed by snow on the regular Monday meeting night.
Since the plan’s public hearing in November, staff made corrections in language and other matters pointed out after review by citizens and Councilmembers. One of those was designating South Broad neighborhood residential.
The plan serves as a long-range planning tool for the city, outlining the community’s vision, goals and strategies for land use, development and public investment. The last plan was adopted in 2012.
Vice Mayor AnneMarie Green had sent the Community Development staff detailed review notes and concerns regarding clarification of language and other details.
At the Dec. 11 meeting, Councilman Hunter Holiday noted “The Comprehensive Plan is a living document for the future, not just for us but for generations to come.”
Earlier in the meeting during the Citizen Comment portion, North Broad Street resident Stella Reinhard had asked for another 60 days to review the plan’s maps in particular.
Green responded, “Every time we delay adopting the plan, you want us to delay more. The plan has no legal obligation on the future. It’s not the zoning ordinance.”
Mayor Renee Turk added, “This is a work in progress. Anything that involves zoning will have a public hearing.”
Four of the Council members were at the meeting in person, with Councilman John Saunders participating remotely due to a temporary medical condition, he said.
In other matters, Council:
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Held a public hearing before approving rezoning and relocation for Mrs. Dorsey’s Clothes Closet in an area where use is not provided. The move is from McClung Lumber’s donated warehouse space off Colorado Avenue to 2121 Apperson Drive, which was larger, spokesman Carey Harveycutter pointed out, but without reliable heating and air conditioning. The closet provides coats and small household items at no charge to families and individuals in need, and is a ministry of Salem Area Ecuemenical Ministries. It is due to reopen the first week of January;
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Received the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report from John Aldridge of Brown Edwards and Co. He reported no issues with the audit that includes the City of Salem Schools, and complimented the city on having a healthy financial reserve of six months;
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Approved an Emergency Operations Plan presented by Fire and Emergency Services Chief Steve Simon;
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Adopted a legislative packet to bring up before Salem’s representatives in the General Assembly. The mayor encouraged citizens to contact their representatives;
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Received the abstracts of votes from the city’s November general election;
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Appointed members for vacancies on boards and commissions.
At the end of the regular session, Council voted to go into a closed session with legal counsel to discuss actual or probably legal action. No action was announced when Council returned to open session.
The meeting adjourned into closed session at 7:17 p.m.
