SALEM 2 residents contest zoning for bus garage

At issue is whether the city may allow a proposed bus garage to operate in a residential neighborhood.
SALEM -- The city's zoning appeals board is being asked to overrule an official who has given permission for a trucking facility to be used as a city school district bus garage.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at city hall to discuss an appeal lodged by Jeff Barton of 1361 Ridgewood Drive, and Kevin Schafer of 1100 Franklin Ave.
The men are contesting a decision made in October by the city's zoning officer, Patrick Morrissey.
The decision pertains to a trucking and storage facility known as Herron Transfer Co., at 1026 Franklin Ave.
The business is allowed to operate in the community, which is zoned for residential use, because the city had long ago granted it a "nonconforming use" status, Morrissey explained Thursday.
Asked for OK
In October, school board President Don Finch met with Morrissey and asked him to approve transferring the nonconforming use status from the trucking facility to a city school district bus garage, Morrissey said.
The school district has been considering buying the property and using it as a place to store and maintain its buses.
Morrissey said he agreed to the transfer, which is a decision that he is allowed to make without taking it before the zoning board.
He said he based the decision on the similarity of uses between a trucking facility and a bus garage.
Decision appealed
Barton and Schafer appealed the transfer, resulting in its being placed on the appeals board's Monday agenda.
Neither man was available Thursday to comment.
Morrissey said their appeal is based on their contention that the nonconforming use status isn't transferable in this instance.
The zoning appeals board will hear arguments from both sides and could make a decision on the matter at Monday's meeting.
Schools Superintendent Dr. David Brobeck was unavailable Thursday to comment.
The school board has been deliberating for weeks whether to buy the 1026 Franklin Ave. property. The asking price is $200,000.
Saving money
School officials have said the district could save money by operating its own bus garage to house its nearly 17-bus fleet.
The district pays about $95,000 annually to have its buses housed and maintained at a private facility on Prospect Street.
It would cost the district about $70,000 annually to operate its own facility, district officials have said.