Zoning density amendment moves forward after first reading in council
SALISBURY, Md. – Monday’s special legislative session of the Salisbury City Council saw the first reading of a text amendment that would double the permitted zoning density in Downtown Salisbury.
“As the mayor, I need to protect the downtown. I’m certainly not going to get myself into a situation where I think we’re going to do something that’s going to be damaging to the downtown, whether people realize it or not,” said Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor.
He remains a vocal opponent of the ordinance that would change the maximum units of housing allowed in downtown Salisbury from 40 units per acre to 80.
“Council heard from city staff on the report and then it went to first reading and council moved it forward, a 4 to 1 vote to move it forward to a second reading,” said Salisbury City Council President D’Shawn Doughty.
The density amendment, requested by potential developer Salisbury Town Center Apartments, will go to a second reading and a vote that will take place at the next council meeting.
Doughty said that even with the 4-1 vote, nothing is set in stone yet: “A lot can change between now and January. But as of now, we are weighing all the decisions, we’re weighing all of the public comments, and we take that into consideration when it comes to our final vote.”
Mayor Taylor says that in its current form, the amendment does nothing to address significant parking concerns: “What we’re saying is, if you’re going to live and you’re going to have businesses downtown, you need accessible parking, adequate, accessible parking. We’re Salisbury, Maryland. People aren’t going to ride around and ride around looking for a parking space. It needs to be accessible.”
The amendment was brought to council after the Salisbury Zoning and Planning Commission voted 6-1 in favor of it, despite a city staff report that gave it an unfavorable recommendation.
“Our internal planning group made an unfavorable recommendation that said what was being proposed, the doubling of the density was unfavorable. It didn’t have any basis, in fact, it didn’t have any support,” Mayor Taylor said, adding, “The planning commission, which I think is somewhat affected by the political nature of these sorts of things, decided to override the planning staff.”
Mayor Taylor thinks the development that would result from the passing of this ordinance is not what the city needs. “I’m for development downtown. But wise development that considers all the players and makes it an accessible, complementary downtown for everybody to visit and shop and live.”
The next meeting of the Salisbury City Council will be in January after New Years.
