Council rezones block of Boulevard, over objections
SALEM – After listening to concerns and questions from nearby residents for almost 90 minutes Monday night, Salem City Council went ahead and rezoned one block of Boulevard to make existing professional offices conform and pave the way for a proposed attorney’s office.
Council voted unanimously 4-0, with Vice Chairman John Givens absent, to rezone five parcels of property on the odd-numbered side of the 500 block of the street to Residential Business.
Previously the lots were zoned Single Family Residential. The catalyst for the rezoning came from a request by attorney Richard Padgett, who wants to move his law office back into the house where he and his wife formerly lived on the upper floor with the office downstairs.
The idea of rezoning the entire block to make it uniform came about after Salem City staff realized the dental office of Dr. G. Sprinkle was erroneously zoned residential, even though the building has been used as a medical office years ago and and Sprinkle’s dental office with rented-out professional spaces for more than 30 years.
Boulevard residents Frank and Cynthia Munley, who live across Walnut Street from the 500 block, and three people who live in nearby areas objected to rezoning the entire block, though, on the basis that it could open Boulevard for more business uses.
They, High Street resident David Foster and North Broad Street resident Stella Reinhart also raised concerns that the Boulevard, which they pointed out is the only Salem street with trees in the middle, is the prettiest entrance into Salem and should be protected.
Of the dozen people who spoke on the rezoning proposal, Boulevard property owners Judy Lawrence and Cynthia Jennings said it made sense to have the block changed to conforming zoning.
In answer to citizen questions about what types of uses are allowed in the RB zone, city officials said professional offices such as medical, dental and attorneys, as well as single family and multifamily residences.
Mayor Randy Foley responded to the Munleys and David Foster’s remarks regarding potential spot zoning by saying, “I’m trying in mind to undo some of the spot zoning in the past.”
