By Meg Hibbert
ContributingWriter
Salem City Council voted 4-1 Monday night to approve rezoning that would pave the way for 171 Creekside Townhomes off Newman Drive in Forest Lawn neighborhood. A second reading and vote is scheduled for Aug. 25.
The property is where Wheeler Communications’ former radio stations are located, included the last AM station, WSLC. The property is located, on 40 acres off Kessler Mill Road and East Main Street. Developers plan to build the two-story townhomes on about 20 acres with the rest in greenspace conservation area.
The property was zoned Light Manufacturing and now will be Residential Multi-family.
Vice Mayor AnnMarie Green voted no, saying after the meeting she did so because “I have a lot of concerns about the density.” She said she would have liked to see a second entrance but learned from meetings with Balzer Associates and developer ABoone that the second road would not be feasible.
Green added, “I do have a lot of faith in Alexander Boone and know he will made the best community that can be.”
Councilman Hunter Holliday said before voting, “I have walked the property and we tried to figure out a way to put another road, but it’s not really not feasible. We’ve all done our homework to come up with a thoughtful decision.”
Neighbors voiced concern about the large number of planned townhomes, traffic congestion from only one entrance, danger to people and vehicles on narrow streets and possible runoff were high concerns.
Fifteen residents who spoke at the public hearing against the development. About 50 neighbors were at the meeting. Many were concerned about an estimated extra 342 cars in the neighborhood.
Opponents were heard mumbling and muttering as they left. One said to Councilmembers as she left, “What is the point of coming? You don’t listen to us.”
Several speakers asked Council to delay the vote for 60 days to give more time for study. Neighbors said they had only known about the townhome plans for two months.
“Two months is simply not enough time to prepare,” said Becky Thomas who has lived on Forest Lawn for 69 years. “Why build on one of the few open spaces in the city?” she asked.
“We want to be heard,” Thomas concluded.
Neighbor Maureen Marr said “Even though there are no sidewalks, now we can walk in the street. This is really going to change the character of our neighborhood.” Marr, who has lived at the bottom of Stoutamire Drive off Kessler Mill Road for 21 years and is concerned about flooding runoff and density. “This development would be as big as our subdivision currently.”
“It’s a beautiful neighborhood. I want to see the right thing come in,” said Patrick Anthony, who lives on Newman and was another asking for a second entrance for the townhomes.
“This is not the kind of leadership we voted for in November,” said Doyle Street resident Lauren Strong. “We did not want all undeveloped land in Salem to be developed.”
Katherine Chrisfield of North Mill Road said citizens are frustrated and called the proposed development and other housing developments recently approved, “A side effect of greed.”
One Parkdale Drive resident said the estimated $1.3 million annual tax revenue the City of Salem could get would be offset by what he said could be $2.3 million expenditures in infrastructure, fire and safety, schools and other city provisions.
Elizabeth Roberts of Parkdale Drive said she loves being able to walk on the streets and walk the family puppy. “High density homes shouldn’t be the only development,” she said.
In other actions Monday night, Council voted unanimously to approve:
* Zoning change to allow a special exception and zoning change to allow J. Cline Properties at 110 Butt Hollow Road to rent to a youth wrestling group run by Kyle Malette that serves kids ages 4-14;
* A 195-foot monopole cell phone tower for Verizon at 319 Rowan St. Other cell phone companies could co-locate, the attorney for Verizon said;
* Rezoning, with conditions, for three lots on Dalewood Avenue to include in the Cluster Housing Overlay. “This would allow a larger lot wider than 60 feet,” said Brad Graham, developer.
The meeting ended at 8:51 p.m.
