The Planning Services division develops long-range and special area plans to ensure that Salisbury’s citizens have more access to the things they value and administers a number of important local, state, and federal programs for homes, the environment, infrastructure, and the local economy. We strive to strengthen Salisbury’s quality of life and to ensure that our community’s current and future needs can be supported.
Our team works every day to accomplish these goals by closely tracking and responding to local and regional economic/demographic trends, by staying up-to-date on best practices in urban design and city planning, and by listening to the everyday concerns of citizens and business owners who wish to make Salisbury stronger.
COMMUNITY PLANNING DIRECTOR
Hannah Berg Jacobson
(704) 638-5230 | Hannah.Jacobson@salisburync.gov
The Community Planning director leads the community planning department which includes code enforcement, urban planning and development services.
Recently, Jacobson was a planner, and subsequently promoted to senior planner, in the Durham City-County Planning Department. There, she led the community planning process to update the Durham Comprehensive Plan’s policies and Future Land Use map in the planned light rail transit area; worked collaboratively with city residents and community stakeholders on updating various Land Use, Downtown and Urban Open Space plans; and designed a Land Use study to remove zoning regulatory barriers for businesses in a historic retail district.
Prior to her work with Durham City-County, Jacobson was a transit-oriented development consultant with the Urban Land Institute of Minnesota and as a consultant with the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission.
URBAN DESIGN PLANNER
Alyssa Nelson
(704) 638-5235 | anels@salisburync.gov
Alyssa Nelson works on long-range design projects for the City.
She is the staff liaison to the Community Appearance Commission, Public Art Committee, and the Dixonville-Lincoln Memorial Project Task Force.
Alyssa received her master's degree in architecture and master's in urban design from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
She also holds a bachelor's degree with high honors in both art and education from Franklin Pierce University where her focus was on studio art and painting.
PLANNER
Emily Vanek
(704) 638-5311
emily.vanek@salisburync.gov
Emily Vanek works on long-range planning projects for the city.
Before coming to Salisbury, Emily interned at the Iowa Department of Transportation and the city of Traverse City, Michigan.
Emily received her bachelor’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from Iowa State University. While attending university, she researched how social vulnerabilities affected peoples’ ability to recover after natural disasters.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST
Diana Cummings
(704) 638-5240 | diana.cummings@salisburync.gov
Diana Cummings has worked with the City of Salisbury since 2004, serving boards and commissions as secretary in the long-range planning division.
She has been involved in many projects, including the CAC Neighborhoods and Education Committee, Blockwork, and Landscape of the Month.
Diana is a former business manager for Piedmont Players Theatre and has taught Office Systems Technology courses at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College for ten years as an adjunct instructor.