Housing
Housing doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing.
Too often development and rezoning is boiled down to two choices: pack in multi-unit luxury apartments or build nothing. I don’t think either approach serves Salem well.
I support development that fits the neighborhood.
Single-family development, quality construction, thoughtful design, and infrastructure that keeps pace with growth. Good planning should come before rezoning and development, rather than an after the fact response to new problems.
I also believe we should be creating more mixed-use, walkable areas where small businesses, restaurants, and housing coexist. My example for this has been the Dilly Dally. My own childhood memories of bike rides to the neighborhood store only reinforces my belief that these types of developments increase quality of life. This plays into the rest of my plan as it’s how we broaden our tax base, support local businesses, and reduce the long-term burden on property owners.
As Councilman I will not vote on a rezoning ordinance in an area I do not live in myself without first considering the sentiment of the people who do. The questions I’ll ask are simple: Does it improve our city? Does it fit the character of the neighborhood? Does the infrastructue support it? Does it strengthen Salem’s future?
Growth is only half of the equation. Making growth work for us is the solution.
If we plan well today, we can preserve the Salem we love while making sure our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to call it home tomorrow.
