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Vision for Salem’s future growth available online

Richard Riffle and David G. walk through the closed spray park at Riverfront Park on Thursday, April 9. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)

Salem’s vision for future planning in the city is now available online.

This year the city is updating its comprehensive plan, titled the “Our Salem” project, to plan for the next 20 years of growth.

The vision document focuses on housing, neighborhood hubs, mixed use, and employment.

DOCUMENT LINK

The vision statement reads, “Salem is a livable, equitable, carbon neutral city where everyone has access to affordable housing and safe mobility choices, families and local businesses are thriving, diversity and culture is celebrated, and open spaces and the environment are valued and protected.”

Inside the document, there’s a map that shows proposed changes to zoning which reflect ideas that came about during the city’s more than yearlong visioning process.

One change seeks to create more flexibility in what can be built and where. For example, Northeast Lancaster Drive and Southeast Commercial Street are largely zoned commercial. Under the draft plan, those areas would become mixed use, which is defined as a pedestrian-friendly development that blends two or more residential, commercial, cultural, institutional or industrial uses.

The proposed Comprehensive Plan Map, if adopted by Salem City Council, will be implemented through changes in Salem’s zoning map and zoning code.

Previous coverage: Salem sets goals for walkable neighborhoods, zoning changes in long-range planning document

-Saphara Harrell