HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/8/2022 - Planning Commission - Minutes - Special1. Call to Order
A work session of the Planning Commission of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held
in Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem,
Virginia, at 4:00 p.m. on September 8, 2022; there being the members of said
Commission, to wit: Vicki G. Daulton, Chair; Denise P. King, Vice Chair; Reid A.
Garst, II; and Neil L. Conner; together with Tommy Miller, Director of Economic
Development, Wayne Adkins, Business Outreach Coordinator, Mary Ellen Wines,
Planning and Zoning Administrator; Max Dillon, Planner, Crystal Williams, Assistant to
the City Manager, A.K. Briele, Director of the Electric Department, Justin Kuzmich,
Director of Real Estate, and the following business was transacted:
Chair Daulton called the meeting to order at 3:57 p.m. and reported that this date,
place and time had been set for the Commission to hold a work session.
2. Tommy Miller began the meeting by introducing himself and explaining that the
Economic Development Department is currently looking for input from local leaders and
stakeholders as the process of crafting a Strategic Plan begins to ramp up. After initial
introductions from meeting attendants were completed, Mr. Miller provided a basic
presentation on the fundamentals of economic development. Among the topics described
were business attraction/retention, city marketability, and regional/local target industries.
Once Mr. Miller finished his presentation, he opened the floor for discussion on avenues
to advance economic development within the City of Salem.
Mr. Miller facilitated the conversation and documented the ideas produced by each
individual. Throughout the discussion, several Planning Commission members
highlighted the opportunity associated with Salem’s proximity to prominent medical
facilities. Another objective emphasized was the need for an “available commercial real
estate database” which would allow prospective businesses to more easily locate
opportunities which exist within the city. Several attendees accentuated the importance
of branding – both highlighting Salem’s identity as “The Championship City” and
exploring complementary assets that can be utilized as attractive marketing tools.
Correspondingly, one of the most predominant themes which emerged in the group
discussion was the importance of capitalizing on Salem’s renowned public services.
Once the dialogue finished, Mr. Miller provided Planning Commission members with
dots which served as a ranking system for the ideas that had been produced. After each
member voted, Mr. Miller briefly recapped the discussion.
3. Adjournment
Mr. Miller inquired if there were any other items for discussion and hearing none,
adjourned the work session at 5:30 p.m.