By Meg Hibbert
Contributing Writer
Four out of five speakers at the April 8 Salem City Council meeting’s Citizen Comment period raised more concerns about what the Planned Unit Development for HopeTree property will do to their neighborhood and North Salem in general.
HopeTree, founded as the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home, has submitted developers’ plans to rezone the historic property and build up to 340 homes, with commercial space, a neighborhood corner store and up to 36 hotel rooms.
North Broad Street resident Mark Nayden pointed out North Broad, Red Lane and Mount Vernon would become overused thoroughfares, especially with delivery trucks, so that the North Broad Historic Neighborhood could lose its charm.
“A PUD will not solve Salem’s housing needs,” Nayden said. Instead of adding more commercial space on the HopeTree property, “why not instead fill in those vacant commercial spaces on Main Street?” he asked.
The Salem Planning Commission was scheduled to vote on the HopeTree proposal Wednesday of this week, after press time.
Other Broad Street neighbors Christina McCart and Susan Bentley raised concern about traffic increases – with the potential of up to 4,000 additional trips a day – causing a decrease in value of homes.
“They real gain will go to out-of-town developers,” McCart said. Bentley said the HopeTree plan “does not honor the comprehensive plan.” She added planned mixed uses on the HopeTree property “does not enhance the family ministries” for at-risk youth and developmentally disabled adults.
Karla Murphy, whose lives next to the four-way stop at Mount Vernon and Carrollton entrance into HopeTree, said the speeding through the stop signs, proposed traffic increases and other aspects are now causing her to sell the home where she has lived for three years. “Traffic is ungodly,” she said.
In other items at the April 8 meeting, Council received the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget from new City Manager Chris Dorsey. General Fund Revenues project a $114 million, a net increase of 4.9 percent from the current year.
“The city has been fiscally conservative with revenue projections,” Dorsey said. “Sports tourism plays a significant role in Salem’s economy. Completing the Moyer Sports Complex later this summer will help by returning baseball and softball tournaments,” he said, adding that the first USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament will be held in Salem in September.
Dorsey said he plans to have three budget workshops with department representatives on April 17, 23 and 24.
Council learned from three new Welcome to Salem signs will be placed at the entrance to Salem on Melrose, and the north and south entrances on Electric Road.
