The Salem City Council unanimously approved moving city development changes and plans for a west Salem road forward during their meeting Monday, Oct. 9.
Councilors opened the meeting with four proclamations recognizing Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Week, White Cane Safety Day, National Walk to a Park Day and National Disability Employment Awareness Month and hearing from representatives in affected communities.
Parking lot, single-room housing changes – moved to second reading
Councilors unanimously approved moving city development plan changes which would make it easier to develop housing intended for single people and require parking lot mitigation to a second reading.
The changes are intended to bring the city’s development plan in line with new state rules around climate-friendly development,
The changes would require climate mitigation for parking lots larger than a half acre, allow public agencies to convert existing parking lots to park-and-rides and allow single-room occupancy housing in all residential, commercial and mixed-use zones in the city.
A public hearing will be scheduled for Nov. 13, Planning Administrator Lisa Anderson-Ogilvie said during the meeting. Councilors would vote on approving the changes following the hearing.
West Salem road change – moved to second reading
Councilors moved forward with a plan to modify two west Salem streets so they’re better able to handle the traffic from a large apartment complex being constructed in the 2100 block of Doaks Ferry Road N.W.
The changes would accommodate the planned 436-unit Titan Hill Apartments, which the council approved in August. Councilor Micki Varney said during the meeting the new roads would make traffic safer near West Salem High School, and add more access to Straub Nature Park.
Councilors voted to move the plans to a second reading.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Salem City Council meets Monday, Oct. 9, to approve proclamations about equal access to city parks, recognizing the rights of blind residents, supporting employment for people with disabilities and designating Hands & Words are Not For Hurting Week in Salem.
Councilors will also hold a first reading of changes to the city’s development code, which would make more parts of the city open to single-room occupancy housing and require climate mitigation when large parking lots are developed.
READ IT: AGENDA
How to participate
The council meets Monday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. in-person at the city council chambers, 555 Liberty St. S.E., room 220, with the meeting also available to watch online. The meeting will be livestreamed on Capital Community Media’s YouTube channel, with translation to Spanish and American Sign Language available. Anyone may attend the meeting to listen or comment.
The public comment portion of the meeting takes place after opening exercises, such as roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, and residents are invited to comment on any topic, whether it appears on the agenda or not. If a public comment does not relate to an agenda item, it may be saved for the end of the meeting.
To comment remotely, sign up on the city website between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday.
For written comments, email [email protected] before 5 p.m. on Monday, or on paper to the city recorder’s office at the Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. S.E., Room 225. Include a statement indicating the comment is for the public record.
Proclamations
Councilors will vote on four proclamations recognizing Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Week, White Cane Safety Day, National Walk to a Park Day and National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
The park proclamation comes alongside an event Monday recognizing the city’s pledge to be a “10 minute walk city,” where every resident is no more than a 10 minute walk from a park or green space. Currently, 51% of Salemites live further from a park, city spokesman Trevor Smith said.
“Through this pledge, the City is recognizing that parks play an important role in the health and well-being, climate resilience, and interconnectedness of our residents and Salem’s commitment to closing the park equity gap,” Smith said in an email.
Parking lot, single-room housing changes
Councilors will consider city development plan changes which would make it easier to develop housing intended for single people and require parking lot mitigation.
The changes are intended to bring the city’s development plan in line with new state rules around climate-friendly development.
The changes would require climate mitigation for parking lots larger than a half acre, allow public agencies to convert existing parking lots to park-and-rides and allow single-room occupancy housing in all residential, commercial and mixed-use zones in the city.
At Monday’s meeting, the council will hold a first reading, which is not a final approval of the changes. The council would have a second reading and vote on the changes at a future meeting.
West Salem road change
Councilors will hold a first reading of a change to the city’s transportation plan which would modify two west Salem streets so they’re better able to handle the traffic from a large apartment complex being constructed in the 2100 block of Doaks Ferry Road N.W.
The changes would classify Northwest Landaggard Drive as a local street, a downgrade from its current status, meaning it’s expected to carry less traffic. The changes would extend Northwest Colorado Drive as a collector street.
Those changes are in addition to other measures being planned to manage the flow of traffic from the 436-unit apartment complex, according to a city memo.
Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
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Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
