Yet Another Reason for REZONING

The City Council refuses to take up the issues of rezoning. So we get LOTS of people coming before them asking for (essentially) SPOT ZONING changes for their property.

I believe the Planning Board seems to think we need some Zoning Reform... as they quickly amended the IL district to include the uses requested (which would have been allowed under some of the existing rezoning plans).

The story from the Salem News is here.
Another view of this story from the Lynn Item is here.

Then the City Council voted to NOT allow such a change. However, they will allow these uses under the Special Permit procedure (which of course gives them full authority for granting these uses - with little oversight or prescribed conditions.)

The special permitting process is a throwback to a different time, one where WHO YOU KNOW is more important than the merits of the situation.

Zoning Reform is the way to go. A completely rezoned City would allow for better control over what goes where as well as giving the City a new blueprint for future changes and revitalization.

CITY COUNCIL:
Stop stonewalling the issue of ZONING REFORM and start to work for all the Citizens of this City... especially the ones who will be living here in the next 50 years.