3.5 Rear Buffum Street Meredith Sterling Public Comment Outlook
3 1/2 R Buff um Street Zoning Meeting Comments
From Meredith Sterling <meredith.sterling@gmail.com>
Date Wed 5/21/2025 146 PM
To Zoning Board Comments <zoningboardcomments@salem.com>
Cc Brennan Postich <bpostich@salem.com>
Caution: This email originated from outside our system. Please do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hello,
We would like to express our concerns with the proposed redevelopment of 3 '/2 R Buffum St.
The existing house is already on a small non-conforming lot, that was literally created from
another house's backyard. The lot also does not have its own access/driveway to the street, in
a densely populated neighborhood with high traffic. Single-family homes in this area are very
rare and in high demand. Overpriced condos, on the other hand, are plentiful. This proposal
does not serve the area's social, economic or community needs, it simply serves as an
additional revenue stream for the owners of the LLC, at the cost of overcrowding an already
overcrowded location. An LLC, which already owns two other properties in Salem, including 3 '/2
Buffum Street, the property directly in front of the one in question.
Traffic Impact: All of the streets along this corridor are overused as traffic cut throughs but none
more than Buffum Street, to avoid the traffic on North Street. Adding three cars will have a
detrimental effect on an already overtaxed Street. Mason Street has parking on only one side,
so already, streets such as Buffum and Barr serve as overflow, adding to the chaos.
Retaining Walls: This property sits at a considerable elevation above three of the abutting
properties. Along the Barr Street side, the wall at its highest is slightly over 5 feet. Along the
Mason Street side, the wall at its highest is approximately six feet. Where the Barr and Mason
Street walls meet, the wall is already failing into the neighboring property. Who is responsible
for the maintenance of this retaining wall and for ensuring the structural viability of the additional
weight from the changes to the structure and pavement/parked cars? Additionally, four mature
trees were felled on this property in the last two weeks. Three of those were/are along the
retaining wall. What happens when the roots of these trees degrade and destabilize the walls?
What happens when instead of sucking up excess water, these empty root structures funnel it
into the wall and potentially onto the neighboring properties five and six feet below? The
impacts discussed here may take years to make themselves apparent. If by then the house has
been made into two condos how much harder will it be for neighbors to negotiate with an HOA
than with a single entity?
Heat Island: As mentioned above, four mature trees were recently removed, drastically
changing the topography and aesthetic for the neighborhood. Will this, coupled with the
considerable paving required to accommodate 4 cars on such a small lot, create what is known
as a heat island?
Drainage: As previously stated, this property sits at a considerable height over many of its
abutters. What is the plan to make sure water does not drain onto these neighboring
properties?
Impact on neighbors: Judging from the appearance of the plan and from the appearance of the
property at 44 Butler, there is no question that the appearance of the dwelling at 3 1/2R will
improve. But at what cost to the neighbors.
We appreciate your consideration of these concerns.
Meredith Sterling & Sam Salamone