Salem considers 'climate friendly' changes to parking, housing - Statesman Journal

Salem considers 'climate friendly' changes to parking, housing

On the agenda: Salem council considers 'climate friendly' code changes to parking, housing
Whitney Woodworth

During its regular Monday meeting, the Salem City Council will consider code changes, including expanding single-room occupancy housing, allowing parking lots to be converted into park-and-rides and requiring new large parking lots to have additional tree canopy coverage, solar power or payments to wind and solar funds.

The code updates are needed to comply with the state rules from the governor's executive order requiring agencies to take action to reduce and regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

City officials said in a report to council that Salem already complies with some portions of the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities parking rules, including ones that require promoting shared parking, allowing conversion of parking to other uses and encouraging alternative modes of transportation.

Salem still needs to amend its regulations to comply with other requirements of the parking rules, including a proposed code amendment that will allow existing parking lots citywide to be converted to park-and-ride uses by public agencies.

The code amendment will also require that new large parking lots over .5 acres reduce or mitigate their climate impacts by providing additional tree canopy cover, generating solar power or contributing to an equitable renewable energy fund.

The proposed amendments will also allow for single-room occupancy housing — one-room living spaces that typically have shared bathrooms and kitchens — more broadly in Salem. City officials said this change will expand housing choice and availability in the city.

Other agenda items include:

- A Salem Transportation System Plan Amendment to reclassify Landaggard Drive NW as a local street and extend Colorado Drive NW as a collector street to connect with Doaks Ferry Road NW in West Salem.
- A proclamation declaring Oct. 15-21 as Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Week to promote a community without violence, abuse and suicide.
- A proclamation declaring Oct. 15 White Cane Safety Day to support the employment, safety and integration of blind people in the city.
- A proclamation declaring Oct. 10 National Walk to a Park Day.
- A proclamation declaring October National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

How to participate in the meeting

The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person at the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE, and also can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish.

Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting.

Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net. Or preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth