SALEM — The Planning Board will be taking a look next week at some zoning amendments that could help lure developers to Salem's Depot area.
The Depot Redevelopment Committee has been working to create a plan for the intersection of Route 28 and Main Street. Consultant Martin Kennedy of Vanasse, Hangen and Brustlin presented outlines for a pedestrian-friendly area with mixed-use developments to the Planning Board in August.
On Tuesday, the board will begin discussing potential zoning amendments to help lure development to the area.
Town planner Ross Moldoff said there are two main purposes behind the Depot project.
"One, they wanted to foster redevelopment, in the sense of getting a little bit of a downtown area," he said. "And two, they want to do something about traffic congestion."
The new ordinance would create an overlay district, making the zoning changes voluntary, so businesses already in the area would not have their zoning suddenly changed, Moldoff said.
"We would try to offer some incentives so the property owners would use the ordinance," he said.
Although it is still early in the process, Moldoff said the new zoning could include residential uses, such as condominiums, and could allow buildings of up to four stories.
"Those might be incentive enough for people to come in and develop property," he said. "It's still not clear if that's going to fly or not."
Moldoff said that the new zoning could help the town achieve its goals for the Depot, including less traffic, more pedestrian-friendly areas and a downtown feel.
"In order to get these incentives — the residential uses and the taller buildings — you'd have to meet additional requirements that you don't have to meet now," he said.
Those requirements could include more landscaping, better signs, or dedicating some land for future connecting roads to alleviate traffic in the area.
Interim Town Manager Henry LaBranche said he shared the vision of a redeveloped Depot area.
"Let's do a comprehensive approach to how we can truly create a downtown center because we don't have one," he said. "When you really think of Salem, where's the downtown?"
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