MorrisvilleAction.org was founded in 2008 in direct response to the town’s approval of Park West Village, a 1,200,000 square foot mixed-use high density development on the already highly congested Highway 54 corridor (Chapel Hill Road). The Town Council also granted a variance for Park West Village to allow more than normal water runoff into the already flood prone Crabtree Creek watershed.
The Morrisville Town Council received hundreds of emails asking them not to approve Park West. A petition submitted the morning of the vote had signatures of 817 individuals, couples and families, likewise asking the Council to vote to deny the Park Village application and variances. This is about the same number of people that voted in the previous Town election. Morrisville and Cary residents spoke out in numbers with broad based, factual concerns about the proposal. The Planning & Zoning Board had already denied the application. The elected Town Council responded to the concerns of their staff and residents by voting to approve the project, despite the overwhelming opposition.
In comments justifying his yes vote, Town Councilman Mike Snyder remarked: ‘If you don’t like the outcome of this evening’s vote, the ball is now in your court.’ It is indeed. Morrisville Action will get an opportunity to play that ball in 2009 when we elect 3 commissioners and a mayor in Morrisville, all of which which (Faulkner, Stohlman, Johnson and Snyder) voted for Park West.
Soon after the Town tried to rush through a 19% property tax increase, the highest in the Triangle. Due in part to the mobilization of residents by MorrisvilleAction.org, the increase was defeated and a tax neutral budget was approved.
There remain many issues needing active resident involvement; the proposed 2009 budget, possible future property tax increases, and a comprehensive new Land Use and Transportation Plan, with proposes to increase Park West by nearly 300%, contributing to Morrisville potentially having one of the highest concentration of high density development in the suburban Triangle.
MorrisvilleAction.org will continue to inform citizens through its web site and to speak out on important Town issues. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for Morrisville residents by supporting responsible balanced growth of a density appropriate to residential communities.
