Roisum: Unfit site chosen for low-income homes in Salisbury

In April 2022, the Salisbury City Council and Mayor Day sold Parking Lot 30 to Green Street Housing LLC stipulating it become low-moderate income housing. It is alongside U.S. 50, two drawbridges, Lake Street, West Main (AKA Fitzwater) Streets and the Wicomico River. This project, named Salisbury Market Center is to become 51 low-income apartments overtop first floor retail.

In March 2024. it was given a preliminary approval by the Planning & Zoning Commission.
Before consideration for final approval, the project must address 10 conditions, including Community Impact Statement (CIS)and traffic studies, previously not done.

This site is unsuitable for housing. It is one of the least desirable of all possible sites in Salisbury for people to live. Air pollution, noise, flooding, and traffic congestion combine to make it an unacceptable site for homes. It is an obvious industrial area, not a residential area. It would be a blatant example of environmental inequity and social Injustice if low-income homes were put there.

Here are the reasons:

Noise – Two drawbridges are within 100 feet of the proposed apartments and are raised for passing vessels anytime except during rush hour periods. Loud air horns must sound off 12 times while the bridges are up. It is common for barges with tugboats to pass through at any hour of the night, to avoid low tide, which varies daily. The drawbridges stay up an average of 12 minutes. This along with the road noise from U.S. 50, including sirens and honking are disruptive to sleep or conversation.

Traffic – When the drawbridges are up, drivers on Fitzwater Street, entering the city from the west, use the existing Parking Lot 30 and Lake Street to turn around and detour north across U.S. 50, then connect with Isabella Street to bypass the two drawbridge closures. Eliminating the turnaround space will create more traffic congestion and increase pedestrian dangers as well as associated noise. Commuters traveling from the west, through downtown include hospital, college, Pepsi Bottling and other businesses. Walking and biking to and from the apartments would be riskier than most.

Flooding -- Flooding is common here, especially Fitzwater and Lake Streets which have permanent “High Water” signs. The proposed apartment-retail building must be raised about 3-1/2 feet above its present grade, to meet lender flood insurance requirements. It is in the FEMA High Risk Flood Zone. Raising the existing streets (Fitzwater and Lake) is NOT included in the developer’s project, leaving them relatively lower than the development. Floodwaters on streets and lots would be accelerated nearby, affecting the surrounding community’s traffic and accessibility during the all-too-frequent coastal flooding, high tides, and storms. Families residing at Salisbury Market Center would potentially be cut off by the usual flooding that occurs there.

Smells and pollution –The proposed apartments are about 150 feet east of a large poultry processing plant with associated odors that can be overpowering. The apartment design shows outdoor porches and seating areas, which will be unpleasant to use on warm days when the prevailing wind blows from the west. U.S. 50 highway and port vessel traffic emit exhaust levels inappropriate for a housing area. Opening bedroom windows for fresh air won’t happen.

It is troubling that these problems were not found before the City and Developer transacted this site, but it is not too late to modify the plans. Other uses, such as a park, parking lot or commercial/industrial purpose would be more acceptable.

Nancy Roisum
Salisbury