麻花视频

Twenty residents spoke during the public hearing, which lasted more than an hour. Recurring themes were the project鈥檚 possible impacts on traffic, property values, utilities and flooding. Many requested a reduction in the number of units proposed by ABoone Real Estate Inc., or for the commission to table the petition for now.

鈥淚 think a reduction of the number of units and development would help alleviate some of our concerns of traffic, impact on the existing neighborhood, and reduce the strain on existing city infrastructure,鈥� Suzanne Hickerson said during the hearing.

The planning commission ultimately voted 4-0 to recommend Salem City Council approval of the rezoning request, with member Jackson Beamer recusing himself due to a conflict of interest. Beamer grew up in the neighborhood and still lives nearby, he said.

鈥淚n looking at this particular development, I am looking at best and highest use, and I鈥檓 also looking at compatibility to the neighborhood,鈥� Planning Commission Chair Dee King said. 鈥淚 do not believe it should be light manufacturing.鈥�

Proposed to be called 鈥淐reekside Park,鈥� homes in the development are estimated to start in the low-to-mid $300,000 range, according to the project鈥檚 rezoning narrative.

Matthew Kendrick and several other speakers mentioned that many neighbors walk or jog on the street, sometimes with dogs or children, and kids ride their bikes in the street. Increased traffic from this development would put them in danger, he said.

鈥淲e are not against growth,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e know that change will happen, but we are relying on you to maintain the safety of our residents and the character of an established neighborhood through thoughtful and collaborative community planning.鈥�

A traffic study conducted by Balzer & Associates on Aug. 28 found the development will generate additional traffic but result in 鈥渕inimal increases in delay鈥� at the intersections studied. It also concluded that the proposed development does not warrant any roadway improvements.

While some neighbors have questioned the validity of the study, Chris Burns of Balzer & Associates explained that they use the same process for every study and have to meet certain standards. The city鈥檚 engineering department has concurred with the traffic study鈥檚 finding that the existing street network can support the development, he said.

鈥淭he results are not subjective, they are objective based on the number of units,鈥� Court Rosen, director of development for ABoone Real Estate Inc., said about the traffic study.

The properties in question, located at 1002 and 1108 Newman Drive, currently house radio towers. ABoone Real Estate Inc. requested to rezone them from light manufacturing to residential multi-family. ABoone Real Estate Inc. is listed as the contract purchaser on the rezoning request; Mel Wheeler Inc. is listed as the property owner.

Leonard Wheeler鈥檚 family has owned the property for nearly 50 years. While the AM station the towers serve was once quite successful, it鈥檚 expensive to keep operating the towers with today鈥檚 small AM radio audience, he said.

A residential development seems like a 鈥渕uch more favorable鈥� use of the land than manufacturing use, Wheeler said. However, prior to the vote, when commission member Reid Garst asked Wheeler what his next steps would be if Salem City Council were to deny the rezoning application, he replied that they would try to move forward and develop the land under its current light manufacturing zoning.

The region, like much of the country, is facing a housing shortage, and this project will help address that, developer Alexander Boone said.

鈥淚 think everyone would agree we need more housing. We need different types of housing,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he disagreement comes when you want to build it in my backyard, and that鈥檚 the issue.鈥�

The concept plan shows that approximately 19 acres of the roughly 40.5-acre property will be kept as open space as it is undevelopable, Boone said. A large section of that area is located either in the floodway or the floodplain. Concerns of increased flood risk, particularly for residents of Parkdale Drive and Chamberlain Lane, were expressed by multiple speakers.

Several residents questioned if the city鈥檚 school system, fire and EMS services, law enforcement agencies and public utilities can bear the weight of this type of growth. Others brought up concerns with the subdivision鈥檚 sole entrance being through Newman Drive. Before voting in favor of the project, commission member Mark Henrickson admitted that he has concerns about the width of Newman Drive, and he recommended the city and the developer have discussions about possibly addressing the issue.

Regarding the city鈥檚 public service infrastructure, these types of applications are always shared with the city鈥檚 school system, fire and EMS, police and public works departments, said Mary Ellen Wines, city planning and zoning administrator. These departments had no concerns with the application, she said.

One resident, Dee Neighbors, submitted a letter of support for the project, stating that she does not want to see the land developed for manufacturing or commercial use. While no one spoke publicly at the meeting to express their support, Rosen said that he鈥檚 received a few emails in support of the project.

鈥淚 know it鈥檚 coming from one of the developers, but I think there are people who support this, who just simply see the opposition and don鈥檛 necessarily want to speak out about that,鈥� he said.

The planning commission鈥檚 recommendation will go before the city council at a future meeting.