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Salem council approves first passage of zoning change removing multifamily parking minimums
Summary
On Sept. 11 the Salem City Council voted to advance amendments that remove minimum parking requirements for new multifamily housing in the Smart Growth overlay, replacing them with maximums and design standards. The move drew months of planning staff analysis and divided council debate; the first-passage votes carried 10–1.
Salem City Council voted Sept. 11 to advance zoning amendments that remove minimum off-street parking requirements for new multifamily housing in a Smart Growth overlay and replace them with maximum parking allowances and other design rules.
Councilors and planning staff said the change is intended to align rules with recent local data and to unlock housing for smaller developers in areas served by transit. Councilor Hapworth moved for first passage; the roll-call tallies recorded a 10–1 result on the portions requiring a two-thirds majority and 10–1 on remaining sections.
Supporters said the current minimums are outdated and force developers to build costly paved lots that make projects financially infeasible and increase runoff and heat-island effect. “I always look at the Halsted as an example — creating that excess parking costs so much money,” Councilor Marcello said. “That could have been green space or a playground.” Planning department staff presented studies and working-group feedback showing many recent projects seek and receive variances because the old minimums did not match demonstrated use.
Opponents cautioned about on-street overflow and neighborhood impacts. Councilor Jerslow, the lone no vote on final passage, said she has seen buildings with limited parking that create stress for residents, caregivers and visitors. Councilors debated whether the ordinance should require a minimum in certain contexts; the final language instead sets maximums (for example, a maximum of 1.75 spaces was cited in committee drafts for some use types) and preserves site review by the planning board and design review processes.
The council and planning staff emphasized that the change applies to new development and does not remove parking from existing buildings. Planning staff and a volunteer working group developed the proposal, which includes updated tree-planting and landscaping definitions, options for street trees, and the ability for the planning board to hold joint design-review hearings. Councilor Stott and others pointed to detailed backup hosted on ImagineSalem as the source for data and analysis.
By statute and local charter the measure requires a second passage; the council advanced the ordinance as amended and will take further votes before the changes take effect. The planning department will continue to provide technical details and implementation guidance to applicants.
