[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6108813,"mediaKeyId","2766766-511c25f48d79086b3af87f1ab780bea9","parentId",2766766,"title","Resident warns Salisbury zoning code blocks density variances, urges council to act on three-phase roadmap","audioSeconds",175,"startMs",880000,"endMs",1055000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2766766-511c25f48d79086b3af87f1ab780bea9&start=880&end=1055","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2766766-511c25f48d79086b3af87f1ab780bea9/thumbnail_880000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6108813/Salisbury/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Resident-warns-Salisbury-zoning-code-blocks-density-variances-urges-council-to-act-on-three-phase-roadmap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108813-94eb21e2c49d449bc62bdb77106725a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167738&Signature=UYz~7qqxk7dL21yJDO8CqI8rYBiNgQ6XvI3zIUYemS-waewXyD-mRHpdTJcwo9PuLDaSV7rLiqUq7UhcGBVV23OL-vf661kZeyGmsQamiISACYCP5T8FjrSEURSXXHUg3fhbHTsZnJrGGTaMtTAW1EF-k59yuA2XR0~oUGPKlVXa2jYCOrxDCpk1FbmJ~nTPFR3JsSAenxMO~CclYq~LgQkcC2tpo9CMdpX~-ozRsT0TfzRs7BkYPBrdFcIqTl0pjzyKUZ7rJ4kaP7rYCEnPdLPfSVEVKS8GY2T9L7cE0cfyn0o7h0NATYNOFQKF60bx-pByjN~wXIPNtA2lYNXSHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of of Salisbury, MD","date","2025-03-25T13:45:49Z","article","Salisbury — A Salisbury resident told the City Council that a gap between city code and state law is preventing the board that handles zoning appeals from approving variances to increase residential density, and urged immediate city action to fix the rule and reopen the variance process.

“Right now there's no legal process to approve these requests, effectively presenting a huge barrier to new development in key growth areas of our city,” said Matt Drew, who identified himself as a Salisbury resident during the public-comment period.

Drew said the city code currently requires a special exception for density increases in multiple parts of the zoning ordinance — including the apartment standards, Riverfront Redevelopment Districts 1 and 2, and the Central Business District — but a recent court ruling has exposed a conflict that removes the board of appeals' authority to consider such variances. He asked the council to direct the city attorney and planning department to draft code amendments.

He proposed a three-phase roadmap:

- Immediate action (by May 30): direct the city attorney and planning department to review the court ruling and draft necessary zoning code amendments.
- Legislative process (June–September): hold a council work session to review draft revisions, offer public review and comment, hold a public hearing, and vote on the changes.
- Implementation (October onward): update city processes, train staff and reopen the variance process for density-related requests.

“If any of these efforts to resolve this issue are already underway, I urge the council to ensure transparency and keep the public informed,” Drew said. “Developers, business owners, and residents deserve clear communication about the steps being taken to restore a functional zoning process.”

Drew told the council the lack of a variance path disproportionately affects projects in downtown, riverfront and other high-density areas that the city has identified for growth.

The council did not take formal action on the comment during the meeting. The remark was made during the public-comment period; the transcript does not show a formal council directive or vote to start the drafting process that Drew requested.

The city attorney or planning staff may already be aware of the court decision and any required edits; Drew asked the council to make the process transparent and to keep the public informed if staff work is underway.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Salisbury City Council Meeting 3/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident told the Salisbury City Council that a recent court ruling created a conflict between city zoning provisions and state law that prevents approval of density-increase variances; he urged the council to direct staff to draft code changes and run a public legislative process to restore the board of appeals' authority.","taxTitle","Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland","taxId",4259,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6108817,"Council approves fire engine and kitchen remodel contracts, declares surplus equipment, backs Bird City Maryland and funds folk festival (first reading)",262,421000,683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2766766-511c25f48d79086b3af87f1ab780bea9&start=421&end=683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2766766-511c25f48d79086b3af87f1ab780bea9/thumbnail_421000.jpg","/articles/6108817/Salisbury/Wicomico-County/Maryland/Council-approves-fire-engine-and-kitchen-remodel-contracts-declares-surplus-equipment-backs-Bird-City-Maryland-and-funds-folk-festival-first-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108817-f39b5c5538bfb91728f2460aa8cf7725/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167738&Signature=FzNnRCxv9fs-zwpZ1bZ259Zo7T~GeqfjndUr4-YBjA5aALTFcdjJnUgQu4qRO0c~deK0XxzpC2ib9gVAOp1nza5vOq3RQsbBxda5ZZe7z1nZKkqnDFzisvdYUsV3n3Y6BTWaFhI0k4kQ9dcK3zXKj7lfW9ybT8O5Xb5JVFZCjELOMvpJwpKbwSGh4GaB1HFifZmlrrpM1TJuqSG4j0iQZPvIFHmejtZV5dFBzihiCT4efH5We~SW5IkmnkUa1fE4y~n5138YBUGTSOGuNjKFKXxK8WiucFJL-UQ5YNVcLm~o8PObQ5Th2oxiQeKnwKuXxwcHjMAcpnXWi75X~9IaKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Salisbury — The Salisbury City Council on March [date not specified] awarded two contracts for the Fire Department, declared certain fire equipment surplus, approved a resolution supporting the Bird City Maryland initiative and approved a first reading of a budget amendment to fund the Maryland Folk Festival.

The council voted by voice on each item during a regular legislative session. Procurement staff presented the bids and the council approved each motion with no recorded roll-call votes; the chair recorded the adoption of each motion as aye.

The largest award approved is ITB25-118 for a new pumper fire engine. City procurement staff presented the purchase as a cooperative contract through the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) cooperative program (contract FS12-23). The contract award to Atlantic Emergency Solutions covers a fire engine priced at $1,283,886. According to the packet, funding for the purchase was appropriated in the FY2025 City of Salisbury budget (Schedule B), and the HGAC contract runs through Nov. 30, 2027.

The council also approved ITB25-116 for a kitchen remodel at Salisbury Fire Department Station 1. Procurement staff recommended awarding that contract to Wayland for $145,080; the packet lists the account to be charged for that work.

Council members declared defibrillators, radios and radio accessories from the Salisbury Fire Department surplus and authorized disposal through public auction. The motion specified that items not saleable would be abandoned, destroyed, scrapped or otherwise disposed of.

On non-procurement business, the council approved Resolution No. 3384, a nonbinding expression of support for the Bird City Maryland initiative. The council then approved Ordinance No. 2,928 on first reading, a budget amendment to appropriate funds for the 2024 and 2025 Maryland Folk Festivals; the ordinance will return for any required subsequent readings.

Each action was presented, motioned and approved by voice. The official record shows the chair casting the concluding aye on each item; no roll-call tallies were read into the record.

Votes at a glance

- ITB25-118: Award pumper engine to Atlantic Emergency Solutions; contract price $1,283,886; funding: FY2025 budget (Schedule B); procurement via HGAC cooperative contract FS12-23. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- ITB25-116: Award Station 1 kitchen remodel to Wayland; contract price $145,080; account listed in council packet. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Surplus declaration: Defibrillators, radios and radio accessories from Salisbury Fire Department. Disposal method: public auction; if not saleable, abandoned/destroyed/scrapped. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Resolution No. 3384: Support for Bird City Maryland. Outcome: approved by voice vote.

- Ordinance No. 2,928: Budget amendment to appropriate funds for the 2024 and 2025 Maryland Folk Festivals (first reading). Outcome: approved on first reading by voice vote.

Context and next steps

Procurement staff said the HGAC cooperative contract was used to obtain the fire engine price and cited the Salisbury Charter exception that allows use of other governmental procurement results. The ordinance for the folk festival passed first reading; any final appropriation or implementation steps will follow required legislative procedures. The surplus declaration instructs staff to proceed with the disposal process as described in the motion.

The council adjourned the legislative session and voted to convene a closed session to discuss an election-board vacancy and personnel matters authorized under state law.","At its March meeting, the Salisbury City Council awarded two procurement contracts for the Fire Department, declared surplus equipment, approved a resolution supporting the Bird City Maryland initiative and approved an ordinance amendment for Maryland Folk Festival funding on first reading. All actions passed by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident warns Salisbury zoning code blocks density variances, urges council to act on three-phase roadmap

Council approves fire engine and kitchen remodel contracts, declares surplus equipment, backs Bird City Maryland and funds folk festival (first reading)