Planning board forwards 56‑lot Salem Street subdivision to council, asks staff to resolve 0.9‑acre open‑space gap

The Town of Selma Planning Board voted Oct. 27 to forward a preliminary plat for a 71.8‑acre subdivision proposed by Salem Street Developers to the Town Council, while asking staff to follow up on a 0.9‑acre discrepancy in required open space.

Planning staff described the project as an R‑20, low‑density residential subdivision in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction off Buffalo Road proposing 56 single‑family lots. Engineer Scott Brown said the lots are sited outside the 100‑year floodplain and that a licensed soil scientist reviewed soils and wetlands. ‘‘We don’t have any of the lots or not inside of the hundred year flood,’’ Brown said, noting lots are outside the floodway and the 100‑year flood areas.

Staff and at least one board member noted an open‑space accounting issue: wetland area exclusions reduce qualifying open space and create a roughly 0.9‑acre shortfall relative to UDO requirements. A planning commenter clarified the UDO’s open‑space provision applies to town property adjacent to developments and that the current site, in the ETJ, does not have a town park that could be counted toward open space. Staff said they are working with the applicant to resolve the discrepancy.

Developer representative Braxton told the board the project will be built by a contracted local builder and that lots are anticipated to be 3–4 bedrooms, with a preference for more four‑bedroom houses. The board voted to recommend the preliminary plat and special‑use permit to Town Council as presented, with the request that staff update the board on how the 0.9‑acre issue is resolved.

One board member recorded an abstention during the vote; the recommendation is advisory and Council will review the application and any outstanding open‑space accounting before final approval.