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Council annexes 115.673 acres on Reed Farm Road for industrial development; public raises tree, policing and sewer questions
Summary
Council approved voluntary annexation of two parcels totaling 115.673 acres on Reed Farm Road for an industrial employment center; staff said the site is already zoned light industrial in the city's jurisdiction and a major site plan for a large distribution/warehouse building has been submitted.
Salisbury City Council on March 4 adopted an ordinance to annex two contiguous parcels totaling 115.673 acres on Reed Farm Road into city limits effective March 4, 2025, following a public hearing.
Planning and Neighborhood Director Hannah Jacobson told the council the parcels are inside the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and already carry a city light-industrial zoning designation; the city’s future land-use map shows the area as an employment center. Jacobson said a major site plan has been submitted for the property describing a large industrial distribution/warehousing facility (presented in the staff report as approximately 137,000 square feet).
Staff circulated the annexation to city departments and reported minimal service impacts overall. Budget and finance listed current property value at about $230,000 with annual tax revenue of $1,400, and city staff said the site is served by a sewer easement; a water-line extension would be required at the developer’s expense. Fire staff indicated the site is within reasonable response time of Fire Station 6 but warned of potential cumulative impacts on firefighters and the need for more fire-inspection capacity with large industrial projects.
At the public hearing, residents questioned the zoning reported in a newspaper article and sought confirmation of property zoning; Jacobson confirmed the agenda packet and city materials listed the property as industrial and said the city would check any press inaccuracies. Others asked about tree retention and buffers; staff noted city land-development rules require a minimum tree-canopy retention (staff referenced a 30% tree-canopy requirement) and setbacks of 100 to 150 feet from property lines in the industrial district depending on conditions.
After public comment, the council moved to adopt the annexation ordinance. During the motion there was brief confusion about the acreage number on the motion text; council members corrected the record and approved annexation by voice vote.
No rezoning was requested with the annexation; Jacobson said the annexation brings the property under the city’s development-review process and city ordinance, which will govern buffers, stormwater and site configuration as the planned industrial project advances.
