INTRODUCTION

The City of Salem’s Community Development Department and the Urban Development Department have initiated the Edgewater/2nd Street NW Streamline Zoning and Parking Study (Study). The purpose of the study is to evaluate the existing zoning, parking and development design handbook requirements in the Edgewater-Wallace Road Overlay Zone to remove barriers to redevelopment along Edgewater/2nd Street NW, while maintaining the intent of the overlay.  The Overlay Zone promotes a mixture of activities, including retail, commercial, and residential development within close proximity to one another in order to facilitate walking and less reliance on the automobile.  Another expected outcome of the study is a parking management plan that assesses the parking supply and demand, evaluates alternative management implementation strategies and encourages more efficient use of existing and future resources in the West Salem Edgewater/2nd Street commercial district.

The Edgewater/2nd Street District is an older, redeveloping commercial corridor located within the West Salem Urban Renewal Area and bordered by an older residential neighborhood. The Study Area includes a mixture of restaurant and retail sales uses, but service oriented uses dominate the area. The area is bound by Rosemount Avenue NW, Edgewater Street NW, 2nd Street NW and Patterson St NW.  A secondary study area is bound by Patterson ST NW, Edgewater Street NW, 1st Street NW, And Wallace Road NW.  The land use concepts and vision for the Area were confirmed by several redevelopment plans and studies such as the Edgewater District Study (1997), the West Salem Urban Renewal Plan (2001), the West Salem Neighborhood Plan (2004) and the Edgewater/Second Street Redevelopment Action Plan (2010).

The streamline zoning project was identified in the Edgewater/2ND Street Redevelopment Action Plan, adopted in April 2010 to guide spending investment in the 450 acre West Salem Urban Renewal Area. The Action Plan recommends a series of projects be completed over the next three to five years on Edgewater and Second Streets, between Rosemont and Patterson Streets, that support creation of a mixed use, commercial district, new housing, enhancement of bicycle and pedestrian amenities, enhance the area’s historic character, and generate private investment.

CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC)

The Edgewater/2nd Street Streamline Zoning and Parking Study Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) will advise staff and the project consultant, Otak throughout the duration of the Study.

FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS

On June 9, 2011 the CAC endorsed formal recommendations from the Edgewater/2nd Street NW Streamline Zoning and Parking Study that reflect changes that can be made to the Salem Revised Code (SRC) Chapter 143D: Edgewater/Wallace Road Overlay Zone that will remove obstacles which impeded the redevelopment of existing buildings in the Edgewater/2nd Street district.

Streamline Zoning Recommendations

The formal recommendations endorsed by the CAC will amend the SRC 143D to:

1. Include a minor modifications section in 143D which exempts specified minor improvements of existing development from a formal extensive design review process.

2. Waive minimum off-street parking requirements for redevelopment sites located in Area 5 of the Edgewater-Wallace Road Overlay Zone, provided there is no increase in building square footage and the existing parking is not reduced.  The minimum off-street parking requirements are waived for all permitted uses except new residential uses.

Parking Management Recommendations

In addition to the zoning recommendations, the CAC concluded that the area could benefit from parking management strategies. These strategies will be employed as funding and staff resources become available.

1. Formalize use of 85% Rule;
2. Reformat on-street parking;
3. Re-stripe all on-street parking in the study area; and
4. Fund a formal review of the existing minimum parking requirements for all development, and adjust the minimum according to local conditions.

Please click here for the full details on the formal recommendations for the Streamline Zoning and Parking Management Study.

NEXT STEPS

Public Hearing at the Planning Commission, March 20, 2012 at 5:30 PM, City Hall, Council Chambers

•  Proposed Design Review Alternative Standards
•  Proposed Parking Requirement Code Amendment

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

For information on past meetings click here.

Please contact Lisa Anderson-Ogilvie, Project Manager, Urban Planner III, at lmanderson@cityofsalem.net.  She can reach by telephone at 503-588-6173 ext. 7581.  Or you may contact Courtney Knox by email at cknox@cityofsalem.net or she can be reached by telephone at 503-588-6178, ext. 7516.