Taller buildings in Fairmount area get a thumbs down from city council

After hearing nearly two hours of information and public testimony Monday night, the Salem City Council narrowly rejected moving forward with an ordinance that would have allowed for taller buildings, denser housing and more mixed-use development in the South Central Association of Neighbors neighborhood.

Councilors were considering an ordinance that would have eliminated five special zoning districts, called overlay zones, which limit the maximum height of buildings to 35 feet.

The five zones were Saginaw…