Ward 2 candidates split on parking rules, want clearer plans before Shetland project advances

At a Ward 2 candidates forum at Hamilton Hall, housing affordability and development drew sustained attention as William Legault, John Newhall and Andrew Smith offered contrasting approaches to parking rules, flood-zone building and the proposed Shetland Park development.

The candidates tied affordability, growth and parking policy together as key levers for whether longtime residents can remain in Salem. “We shouldn't have 50,000 people in Salem,” William Legault said during the forum, arguing for limits on how much the city should grow and for conversations with landlords to restrain rent increases. John Newhall said he supports eliminating parking minimums for new multifamily buildings and noted the city still has multiple planning approvals that would shape any project. “I do support getting rid of parking minimums, parking requirements,” Newhall said. Andrew Smith said he would demand more detailed plans from developers before endorsing large projects in waterfront neighborhoods such as Shetland Park.

Why it matters: Candidates tied zoning and parking to that larger question of affordability. Newhall said removing parking minimums can help lower construction costs and enable mixed-income housing; Legault countered that developers will still build parking unless car ownership is explicitly addressed, saying “Until we tell people they can't bring cars to Salem, we have to have parking.”

Details and policy context: The candidates debated a set of related items raised by the moderator: whether multifamily housing should be allowed to build units without parking; whether the city should permit development in flood-hazard zones; and whether the Shetland Park proposal for roughly 1,200 residential units is appropriate for Salem's waterfront. Legault said flood-zone projects should be vetted more carefully and cited the Franklin Street example where buildings were elevated to mitigate flooding. Newhall said he generally “defaults to no” on building in flood zones unless mitigation is proven adequate. On Shetland Park, candidates said they had not formed final positions because they want more concrete plans from developers and more community engagement.

Quantities and tradeoffs cited in the forum: candidates referenced citywide population estimates — “at 45,000 population right now, we're on our way to 50,000 people in Salem” (Legault) — and noted the city currently requires about 1.5 parking spaces per unit while observed usage averages about 0.85 spaces per unit (Newhall). Newhall and Smith emphasized that even if parking minima are removed, economic incentives often lead developers to include parking unless other incentives or transit alternatives exist.

What candidates proposed: Newhall favors eliminating parking minimums and expects existing zoning and approvals to remain a check on developers. Legault favors retaining parking requirements until car ownership is reduced and proposed incentives or tax breaks to encourage landlords to keep rents affordable. Smith emphasized requiring developers to engage with neighborhood groups and produce detailed traffic and site plans before projects such as Shetland proceed.

Next steps and city context: Candidates repeatedly pointed to the lack of an up-to-date citywide master plan — Newhall and Legault urged a modern citywide and downtown master plan to provide clearer guidance for development decisions. None of the candidates described a specific ordinance change already adopted; they framed most proposals as priorities they would press if elected.

Ending: Voters in Ward 2 will hear continued debate about parking rules, flood risk and Shetland Park as the campaign continues; candidates called for more community engagement and for the city to produce clearer, publicly available plans before major zoning changes are approved.