Trustees send PUD back to plan commission and defer $80,000 zoning rewrite contract pending budget amendment

The Village of Salem Lakes put two major land-use items on different tracks: trustees voted unanimously to send a proposed PUD ordinance back to the planning commission for further consideration, and they deferred consideration of a contract to rewrite the village's zoning and land-division ordinances because the requested contract ceiling exceeds the current budgeted amount. In the planning and zoning section of the meeting trustees discussed a firm selection process for a comprehensive update to the zoning and land division code. Staff said the RFP produced two finalists; trustees and staff discussed the scope (including hamlet/town-center approaches, accessory dwelling unit considerations, and the land division chapter) and a proposed fee ceiling not to exceed $80,000. Finance staff pointed out the 2025 budget includes $65,000 for zoning/code work; because a budget amendment would be required to increase that allocation, trustees tabled the item and asked staff to bring back the necessary budget information and legal steps. Trustees emphasized the rewrite is intended as an update and not a wholesale replacement of the existing code; the selected consultant would lead public engagement and work with the planning commission, EDC and staff over an estimated 18-month timeframe. Separately, the board referred the proposed amendment repealing and recreating the PUD overlay district (Ordinance 2025.09-102) back to the planning commission for additional deliberation. The plan commission chair had told trustees he did not feel the commission had sufficient time to evaluate concerns and options; the board voted 7-0 to send the PUD back with the expectation the commission would act at its next feasible meeting. Trustees did approve one land-use amendment on the consent agenda: a comprehensive-plan map amendment requested by Rossi & Sons that transfers approximately 2.82 acres from an area previously designated for park and recreation to a residential designation adjacent to 220 Sixth Court. The plan commission had recommended approval. Staff noted the land-use change would permit a larger accessory building on the receiving parcel (the accessory building allowance would increase from a 2,000-square-foot cap to 3,500 square feet once the acreage is added to the residential parcel). The board approved the Rossi request unanimously. Trustees and staff repeatedly stressed that the rewrite and any PUD or overlay changes will still be subject to public input, plan commission review, and formal board action, and that the consultant would prepare drafts, hold public hearings and present recommended text amendments for the village's legislative process.