City Council passes density increase for Downtown Salisbury

SALISBURY, Md. – City Council voted to move forward Monday night with a proposal to increase density in the Central Business District of Downtown Salisbury.

Following hours worth of testimony, from both sides of the issue, Salisbury City Council voted in favor of moving forward with a proposal to increase the zoning density in Salisbury’s Central Business District.

The proposal, which passed by a vote of 4 to 1, doubles the permitted zoning density by changing the maximum units of housing allowed in Downtown Salisbury from 40 units per acre to 80.

Opponents argued it would make Downtown Salisbury more congested and parking harder.

“My concern is overcrowding,” explained Holly Worthington, a local realtor who shared her concerns to the council. “My concern is the cost, look at all the cost of infrastructure, the things that are unknown, the delays that can occur because of maybe contaminants in the soils and things like that.”

Others on the other hand spoke in favor of the project. Specifically, several business owners who are located Downtown, including Nicole Blackwater, owner of Blackwater Apothecary on West Main Street.

“We just experienced a week of snow days,” Blackwater emphasized. “If there were 300 plus more families living in Downtown, there would be people who would be snowed in and would want to go out and grab a cup of coffee, go get lunch, and they would be able to walk in their accessible Downtown.”

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. It then went to a first reading back in December where it was also approved with a 4 to 1 vote where it ultimately passed at Monday night’s meeting with the same outcome among council members.