HopeTree Family Services has received final Salem City Council approval for a rezoning of 62 acres of its property to a planned unit development.
On its second and final vote, the council voted 3-2 Monday night to approve an amended zoning application from HopeTree. Mayor Renee Turk, Bill Jones and Randy Foley voted in favor, Hunter Holliday and Jim Wallace against. The tally was identical to the council’s first vote on the application on Nov. 25.
During the citizen comment period, Stella Reinhard, who has led much of the opposition to the rezoning, spoke on “discrepancies” that remain in the amended rezoning application.
“Redoing a process corrects nothing if you don’t fix the core issues,” she said.
Before the vote, Holliday read a statement, addressing Salem residents and his fellow council members.
He listed a number of measures he’s taken on his own which led to his “nay” vote, including informal citizen surveys and visiting other planned unit developments.
“Neighborhood alliances are important and moving forward, I encourage everyone to remain actively involved in our city,” Holliday said. He later argued that adding new business a mile from Main Street will not aid in the “process of revitalizing our downtown.”
After the vote, the packed room cleared out pretty quickly, residents leaving the room with colorful signs at their sides — signs with messages that read “We need a fair mayor!” and “Vote no until unbiased traffic studies are conducted!”
Rezoning issue surfaced this summer
This rezoning process began this summer. On June 24, the city council approved a rezoning from residential single-family zoning to a planned unit development, allowing for the construction of up to 28 more commercial units on 62 acres of the land.
[Read more about the history of the HopeTree property: They grew up in the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home. The old property has changed, but their memories remain.]
HopeTree has stated in documents filed with the city that it would like to retain about 22 acres of the land, and would sell the rest.
This vote caused community unrest that continues today. Five residents sued the city over the council’s approval, mostly on the grounds that improper procedure had been followed in approving it.
To address the plaintiffs’ concerns, HopeTree resubmitted its zoning application, which was substantially similar to its first attempt.
In November, the planning commission recommended approval of the amended application on a 4-1 vote after a joint public hearing with the council. Twenty-nine residents spoke on the issue, the majority in opposition.
Council approves salary raises
Also on Monday night, the council voted 3-2 — with the same breakdown as the HopeTree vote — on a second reading to almost double member salaries, following new limits set by the General Assembly.
At its last meeting, the council had voted 3-2 in approval of the raises.
The mayor will make $24,000 and council members $22,000, effective July 1, 2027.
The Roanoke City Council enacted these new maximums in July but will raise salaries incrementally by $5,000 per year until they reach the maximums allowed.
Monday’s meeting was the last for Wallace and Jones before their terms end on Dec. 31. Anne Marie Green and John Saunders were elected last month and will join the council in January.
