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Council approves easement to allow Canal Street development to build public path, bridge and seating
Summary
The Salem City Council authorized the mayor to sign an easement enabling a Canal Street developer to build and maintain a shared‑use path, a pedestrian bridge overlooking Rosie’s Pond, bike parking, benches and public amphitheater space required by the Planning Board.
The Salem City Council on June 26 voted to authorize the mayor to execute an easement from the city to the Canal Street LLP developer so the developer can construct and maintain improvements required by the Salem Planning Board, including a shared‑use path, a pedestrian bridge, bicycle parking and bench seating.
Councilor Cohen said the project’s public amenities go beyond the private development. “I rarely get enthusiastic about easements, but this is really a lot of stuff that it's gonna benefit the community,” Councilor Cohen said.
The council’s action implements conditions the planning board placed on the project during its decision process. Councilor Cohen described the bridge as providing a new public overlook of Rosie’s Pond, and said the shared‑use path will better connect pedestrians and bicyclists to an existing crosswalk. He also said the developer committed to allowing free public movement through the development and that an amphitheater area could be used for city events.
The matter was adopted by roll call vote with 10 in the affirmative, none in the negative and one member absent.
Discussion and context: councilors framed the easement as a way to deliver neighborhood connectivity and public amenities that were required by the Planning Board decision. Councilors noted the features were intended to serve both residents of the development and the broader public; an attorney for the developer was present to answer technical questions, according to the council record.
What the vote does and what remains: the council’s vote authorizes the mayor to sign the easement; it does not itself change zoning or planning approvals. The easement is intended to allow the developer to build and maintain the required path and related public improvements consistent with the planning board decision.
The council did not specify an implementation timetable in the meeting record, and no additional funding authorizations were tied to the easement vote in the council’s language. The mayor’s office and the developer retain responsibility for carrying out the construction and maintenance commitments.
