SALISBURY – The Salisbury City Council showed support this week to allow for bed and breakfasts to be established in what was originally a residential neighborhood.
On Monday evening, the City Council held a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to allow for the use of bed and breakfasts in the Newtown Historic District.
The proposed ordinance states, “the Newtown Historic District is one of Salisbury’s oldest and most treasured neighborhoods containing structures with architectural and historical significance and historical value to the community, the homes in the district are among the largest in Salisbury, their size has contributed to their lack of viability as private single-family residences and use as group housing or rental homes. Bed and breakfast facilities contribute to the stability and vitality of a neighborhood and to the inherent charm of well-maintained historic districts.”
According to the ordinance, the Newtown Neighborhood Association has expressed desire to allow bed and breakfast establishments within the Newtown neighborhood, and the City Council proposed amendments for the Salisbury Planning Commission to review.
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on Dec. 18 and in conclusion recommended approval of the proposed amendments.
The City of Salisbury’s Code would be amended to add the definition of a bed and breakfast being the renting of not more than three rooms in an owner-occupied dwelling for lodging and serving of breakfast to not more than six casual and transient adult roomers and the children of those six adults.
The ordinance furthers, no roomers stay can exceed 14 days in a six month period; all meals and all amenities connected with the guest rooms will be solely for use by the owner, the owner’s family and the owner’s registered guests; there will be only one kitchen and no guest room can include cooking facilities; the owner will maintain a guest register, preserve all registration records for no less than three years, and consent to and make records available immediately to the housing inspector upon request; the owner may display a single exterior sign; the owner must be issued a permit for the use and operation of the owner occupied dwelling as a bed and breakfast inn by the housing inspector.
Salisbury resident Kay Gibson expressed concern over the single-family neighborhood, in which she lives, becoming commercialized.
“Bed and breakfasts are another form of commercial enterprise being put into a single-family zone. I see the changes in the neighborhood,” Gibson said.
Gibson recognized several single-family homes that have been converted into duplexes and apartments within the Newtown neighborhood as well as group housing facilities.
“I no longer live in a single-family neighborhood. That is what I was told it was when I bought in. I am extremely disappointed in the changes and in the number of people that peruse the neighborhood. The neighborhood has become less safe. More petty crimes … you don’t walk after dark. A bed and breakfast sounds wonderful but it is just another commercial unit in a single family dwelling,” Gibson said.
The Newtown Association Board of Directors submitted a letter to the City Council in support.
“The Board of Directors of the Newtown Association believes the legalization of B&Bs in Newtown will be a benefit to Newtown as well as the entire city. Our selection of historic homes from the Federal Period of Poplar Hill Mansion, 1795, to the Victorian Period of the Gillis-Grier House, 1887, and our six historic churches including the Chipman Center, 1838, combined to make this one of Maryland’s finest historic districts,” it read.
The letter continues, “As a destination by bed and breakfasts it may become recognized as the gem it is. As a revitalization of the Downtown District continues let us join in the urban renewal as a part of Salisbury. The Board of Directors of the Newtown Association is in support of this legislation. We have concerns regarding parking, and we hope this will be addressed. Bed and breakfasts we believe will be market driven.”
Council President Jake Day agreed with Gibson’s concerns.
“I believe we need to address those things. This is not a catch all and will not solve all the problems,” Day said. “However, there are quite a few homes that residents of the Newtown Association and residents of the Newtown neighborhood would like to turn into bed and breakfasts. This legislation was a result of their request for our consideration, and I am in support of it.”
The council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance in first reading to allow bed and breakfasts in the Newtown Historic District.
Newtown was Salisbury’s first residential district and was originally developed on the lands of the Poplar Hill plantation beginning in the early years of the 19th century.