As you have heard from the many public comments, most people support residential housing in the CBD. Many of us also shared concerns over parking and traffic, studies for which are pending. It really makes no sense to increase density without knowing whether or not the number of units chosen, in this case 80, will be supported by the traffic impact and parking studies. The smartest thing Council could have done was to throw opponents a bone by agreeing to table the vote for 30 days until the two studies were completed, then afterwards approve the amendment anyway. I mean, it has been apparent since the summer that the density amendment was a done deal, as the subsequent release of meeting minutes and a letter from Council to the Planning and Zoning Commission have revealed.
The only logical reason in my mind Council did not do this is because it and the developers were afraid the studies would not support the proposed 80 units per acre and did not want to risk that.
I believe the bigger risk is what Council has done by approving 80 units per acre without knowing the results for the two aforementioned studies.
Salisbury is not Baltimore or Philadelphia or New York, with a large radius of streets on which to park, in addition to parking garages. Our small CBD is an island that is going to lose parking through these developments. The mayor hit the nail on the head that this is a math problem, and the numbers just don’t add up. Outside of the CBD, where is there anywhere to park? Cross busy Rt. 50, and park where? Cross busy Rt. 13, and park where? Cross Carroll Street, and park where? Cross Mill Street, and park where? This eventual lack of parking will discourage people from even attempting to visit the downtown area, the exact opposite of what we all want to see happen.
To the council members who said they did research and voted for this amendment or changed their minds and voted for this amendment, why not share this information with the public? If it changed your mind, maybe it will change some of ours. Citizens have asked for transparency from this Council, and some members have stated they support transparency too, but by not stating your reasons for why you voted the way you did, unlike the lone member who voted no did, those words are empty rhetoric, lip service, worthless.
Lastly, with the possible exception of the Government office buildings, I believe the library is the largest attraction for foot traffic and people in general, in the CBD. To me, it makes no sense to tear this building down and move this traffic generator all the way out to the Ward Museum site which is really not walkable for people as it will not be centrally located. Why not leave the library where it is, and instead, build the new performing arts center on all those lots fronting Rt 13, which would also afford a lot of parking? This crown jewel of the city as I heard someone say, should be visible to as many people as possible, and that means Rt. 13, not hidden in the center of the CBD. Just a thought.
Joe Schiaffino
Salisbury resident
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
