Debbie Campbell's Letter

Growth planning must be accessible to residents
It is obvious from testimony, polls, letters and conversations that most Salisbury residents are dissatisfied with growth management and many recent decisions regarding development. Their reasons are also obvious. Increasing numbers of residents are also dissatisfied with the process by which planning occurs and zoning is done.
Many residents feel this process takes place in secret until decisions have been made and announced — in part because there is little media coverage. By then, it’s too late to participate in a meaningful manner. Those who do participate are often displeased by what they experience and feel developers are usually favored at the expense of the public.
One reason for this is the difficulty the average person faces to participate, which begins with obtaining adequate information in a timely and convenient manner. It is surprising so little information is made available on the Internet.
Starting as soon as possible, each meeting agenda, as well as staff reports, recommendations and other significant material, should be posted on the city Web site at the earliest possible time. Details about specific requests for zoning action should be posted shortly after receipt. Other jurisdictions already do this. It is an easy way to make information readily available to the public so the process will be more transparent.
Another factor that has resulted in criticism is the manner in which those who participate are often received and sometimes treated. Since becoming a member of the Salisbury City Council, I have come to appreciate the basis for that criticism, and hope it will cease immediately.The primary reason the public is dissatisfied is the nature of growth and development that has been approved in recent years. After several decades that resulted in overcrowded roads and schools, a number of larger projects have been proposed and, in some cases, approved with little or no consideration of impact on existing neighborhoods, subsidies such as TIFs or quality of life.Additional regulation, such as required by HB 1141, will do little to change the situation unless more attention is paid to residents and growth is better managed, so existing neighborhoods are protected and residents are not harmed by new development. In Salisbury, the mayor recently indicated her administration is working on a revision of the city’s comprehensive plan. The first step should be to ask residents about what they desire. Hopefully, in the next several weeks the City Council will conduct a public hearing so residents can speak directly to the council before a draft plan is prepared.Once drafted, there should be additional hearings before the council takes action.

Deborah CampbellSalisbury