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Questions about Morrisville ballots

MORRISVILLE, NC (WTVD) – Wake County’s district attorney has asked the State Bureau of Investigation to look into absentee ballots hand delivered to the Board of Elections.

Wake County Deputy Elections Director Gary Sims told ABC11 officials became concerned when six ballots were delivered to the elections office by Morrisville Town Council Member Steve Deihl late last week.

According to North Carolina election law, most absentee ballots have to be mailed in.

“If somebody is walking in, turning in absentee ballots, it has to be done by the voter or a near relative – else it has to be mailed in to our office,” explained Sims.

But Sims said Deihl is not related to any of the people casting the absentee ballots he delivered.

“It’s not something we normally see,” said Sims.

By phone Thursday, Diehl told ABC11 he was just helping out a friend.

“The person said ‘Hey, you going down there to the board of elections? Could you save me the postage and drop them off,’” he explained.

That friend is also a Morrisville council member who’s running for re-election: Linda Lyons.

And Sims says Lyons may have also violated election law by picking up absentee ballots directly from voters. Unless they’re family members, you can’t do that.

The fact that the Board of Elections turned the matter over to the District Attorney caught Diehl by surprise.

“I know nothing about the rules and regulations regarding absentee ballots. I had no reason to check into them,” he told ABC11.

If proven true, some of the allegations could be felonies. The investigation is getting underway and no charges have been filed.

We reached out to Lyons for comment on this story and are waiting to hear back.

[See Original Article]

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• Morrisville votes for change
  While the future of the District 1 seat remains uncertain, the winners of two of the three other seats will change the ethnic and political makeup of the council. Published: Nov. 13, 2011 2:00 AM | Full story
• Two Morrisville voters file complaints over disallowed ballots
  Challenger Michael Schlink topped incumbent councilwoman Linda Lyons by two votes in an official tally released Tuesday, but the final word won’t come until the Wake County Board of Elections settles two voters’ complaints about the board’s disqualification of at least 19 absentee ballots.Published: Nov. 16, 2011 4:43 PM | Full story
• Morrisville candidate accused of trying to vote twice
  Morrisville Town Council member Linda Lyons has been accused of trying to vote twice, Wake County elections officials say. Published: Nov. 8, 2011 9:43 PM | Full story
• Ballot delivery sparks probe in Morrisville
  The delivery of six absentee ballots to the county election office has spawned a state investigation involving two Morrisville Town Council members and allegations of ballot mishandling, a felony. Published: Nov. 5, 2011 5:45 PM |Full story

Jackie Holcombe defeated 12 year incumbent Jan Faulkner for Mayor with 62% of the vote.

Incumbent Tom Murry defeated Michael Roberts and Lydia Martin garnering 77% of the At Large vote.

Margaret Broadwell triumphed over Creighton Blackwell with 65% of the vote for District 4.

Steve Diehl beat incumbent Mark Stohlman in District 2 with 55% of the vote.

Significantly, each of the candidates supported by MorrisvilleAction won in each of the three Morrisville precincts indicating broad-based support throughout the community for more fiscal responsibility and sustainable growth.

Many thanks to all the MorrisvilleAction supporters and to the supporters of these four candidates. Voters turned out in record numbers—a testimony that Every Vote Counts!

Updated Video

Note: You may need to install flash player to see the video above.  You can install the player here.

See & Hear Mayor Faulkner on 6/18/08 support the proposed 19% property tax hike.

Postcard

Yard Sign

MorrisvilleAction thanks all the candidates who met with us to share their visions for future Morrisville.

For Morrisville Town Council Election on November 3rd, MorrisvilleAction.org is pleased to announce its endorsements:

Mayor – Jackie Holcombe
At Large – Tom Murry
District 2 – Steve Diehl
District 4  - Margaret Broadwell

Mayor
For mayor, MorrisvilleAction enthusiastically endorses Jackie Holcombe, an active and effective advocate for our community. Mrs. Holcombe will provide the new leadership that Morrisville desperately needs. She helped lead the grassroots effort against the 19% property tax increase supported by her opponent in 2008 and brings to the table a track record of fiscal responsibility.

As a small business owner, Mrs. Holcombe also understands the difficulties faced by businesses large and small in these challenging economic times. Her responsive style of leadership and promotion of sustainable growth we can afford will serve the town well. www.ElectJackie.com

At Large
Tom Murry has served on the Morrisville Town Council since 2005. A fiscal conservative, Councilman Murry has never voted for a property tax increase. He is a strong advocate for citizen-driven efforts to increase public safety and government efficiency such as the Morrisville Community Emergency Response Team and the Morrisville Budget Performance Assessment Panel. Councilman Murry has frequently called for more citizen input opportunities on important issues facing the Town. MorrisvilleAction is pleased to endorse Councilman Murry.  www.votemurry.com

District 2
For District 2, MorrisvilleAction endorses Steve Diehl. Since moving to Morrisville in 2001, Steve has been a tireless advocate for citizens. Whether on Town Advisory Committees, an often heard voice of reason at Public Hearings, or in news reports from local media, Mr. Diehl has consistently supported residents’ interests. We believe Steve Diehl will provide the leadership needed to move Morrisville forward in a fiscally responsible manner.  www.SteveDiehl.org

District 4
MorrisvilleAction endorses Margaret Broadwell for District 4. We endorse Ms. Broadwell due to her thorough understanding of the issues directly affecting our community and her previous 10 years experience of public service on the Morrisville Town Council. She has a proven record of bringing citizen friendly programs and policies to our community while supporting fiscal responsibility and an open government.  www.VoteBroadwell.com

Please Vote on November 3rd!

Thank you.

Despite this persistent message from residents, Cary was the 5th fastest growing city in the nation last year!

Morrisville residents have also expressed ongoing concerns about the rate and quality of growth in their area.  Residents have objected to both proposed tax increases and a long-range land use and transportation plan.

Many citizens of Cary and Morrisville view their communities as composed predominantly of residential neighborhoods and support balanced growth which does not damage or exploit those neighborhoods, but rather enhances the overall quality of life.  In other words, development density that is appropriate to the surrounding community.  Residents value family neighborhoods, good schools, adequate infrastructure, tree-lined streets, uncongested roadways and the resulting attractive quality of life.

On October 6, 2009, Cary residents will elect District A, District C and one At-Large representatives.

On November 3, 2009, Morrisville residents will elect a Mayor as well as District 2, District 4 and one At-Large representatives.

The sad truth is that it is often easier for citizens to complain about municipal government than it is to take action to affect real change.  In the unfortunate case, the most active participants in town government are those who stand to reap some financial gain which can result in special interests having disproportionate influence.   Citizens of Cary and Morrisville are crying out for elected officials who will work to protect and enhance the quality of life that residents enjoy, and to preserve the investments they have already made in their homes and communities.

Between now and the mid-July filing deadline, qualified Cary and Morrisville residents have the opportunity to throw their hat in the ring and sign-up as a candidate to represent the interests and the will of their neighbors.

These are citizens and candidates of integrity, honesty and with the skills necessary to provide real and effective leadership.  These are citizens and candidates committed to balanced growth, representative and transparent governance, and fiscal responsibility.

DavisandHighHouse.org is a non-partisan organization which was formed in 2007 to preserve neighborhood quality of life with development density appropriate to residential communities.  DavisandHighHouse.org will continue to serve as a voice for individual citizens, as a focal point for community action, and will encourage voters to support candidates who are committed to “a balanced approach to growth”.  www.davisandhighhouse.org

MorrisvilleAction.org was formed in 2008 to enhance the quality of life for Morrisville residents by supporting responsible growth of a density appropriate to residential communities. We are a non-partisan group of citizens that will encourage voters to select candidates of integrity who support responsible growth.  www.morrisvilleaction.org

If you are interested in, or are considering, running for elected office in Cary or Morrisville this fall and would like the support of these community organizations, please contact us.

Cary candidates, please email info@davisandhighhouse.org

Morrisville candidates, please email info@morrisvilleaction.org

Thank you.

Council to vote on the amended LUTP resolution Tuesday, March 24.

Some key features of the updated LUTP are (by item number of Resolution):

1. NC 54

Coordinate with Town of Cary, NCDOT, NCRR, Durham and other regional partners.

Conduct a study to determine funding, partnerships, & ultimate section (Action Item 3.21)

The roadway will have different sections as detailed in attachments 22 and 23 of the briefing sheet, which provide a detailed listing of the cross sections and the different locations within the corridor.

4. Regional Activity Centers:

The following parcels will be removed from the RAC designation near NC 54 and Cary Parkway and designated as follows: two apartment complexes and Stephen’s Gate townhomes (high density residential), storage facility and Parkplace Commons Shopping center (Corridor Commercial), and Morrisville Manor (Institutional). See Attachment 24 of the Briefing Sheet for the Future Land Use Map.

The remaining land (not removed per above statement) in the RAC near NC 54 and Cary Parkway will be re-designated as the “Southern Activity Center” with separate guidance in the Land Use Plan that is appropriate to its size and scale, and includes activities that complement its location.

10. Crabtree Crossing Parkway Extension:

Remove the connection as a roadway

Include as a greenway connection

Watch NBC17 Video Report on Public Input Session on Land Use Planning and Transportaion in Morrisville

Read the Latest from the Cary News:

New! Cary News Richard Elliott In My Opinion

Morrisville residents react to council’s land use proposal

See In The News for more Video and Articles.

• Development Density – as proposed, 24% of Morrisville’s land will be designated as high intensity Activity Centers or Corridor Commercial with retail, major commercial, institutional, hotel and apartments as preferred uses. By comparison, only 9% of town land is presently designated as Mixed Use, Retail, Service, and Lodging. The Regional Activity Center around Park West will triple in size from 95 to 282 acres.
• Parks/Open Space/Greenways – currently 4% of town area, the proposed plan decreases public green space outside of our Town Center to 3%.
• Population – projected to increase from 15,000 to 24,500.
• Traffic – proposed improvements to NC54, long needed to alleviate existing traffic, have no identified funding. Consultant notes a low degree of confidence that 6 lanes will be sufficient to support planned area growth.
• Safety – As indicated by Council’s recent Kit Creek Rd vote, connectivity takes precedence over lower traffic, neighborhood friendly options. The plan to extend Crabtree Crossing Parkway to Town Hall Drive and I-540 remains in the plan.
• Schools – though 22% of Morrisville’s population is under 18, no land has been designated for new schools.

In workshops and as survey respondents, area residents have been clear. They have asked that Morrisville grow responsibly, maintaining its small town appeal while increasing green space, limiting addition of apartments, addressing existing traffic and making our community a safe place for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Morrisville Action recommends the following changes to the Land Use and Transportation Plan:

• Prioritization of specific improvements to NC54 – Fix 54 First!
• Addition of public green/open space to total at least 5%.
• Designation of property for a future school or schools.
• Removal of intent to route commuter traffic through residential neighborhoods.
• Reversal of increase to town’s regional activity centers, especially Park West.
• Reduction in the total amount of property designated as mixed use under the categories of Regional Activity Center, Business Activity Center, Neighborhood Activity Center and Corridor Commercial.

LUTP Work Session By the Numbers:

• At present, Morrisville is 80% developed and 20% vacant
• Employment growth is expected to increase by 200% over the next 25 years
• Current population: +/- 16,000
• Expected population based on plan: 24,500
• Number of lanes suggested for portions of NC 54: 6 plus boulevard
• Degree of confidence 6 lanes will be sufficient to support area growth: Low
• Total acres, Park West Village Regional Activity Center (RAC): 95
• Total acres, proposed Southern RAC that includes Park West: 282
• Total area, as proposed, of 3 Morrisville high density RACs: 900 acres

Land Use Plan

As proposed, land immediately adjacent to Park West Village, as well as multiple parcels north of Morrisville Pkwy, east of NC 54 or south of Cary Pkwy will be reclassified as Regional Activity Center.  (A RAC designation allows for development of “significant regional employment, retail, education, health care, entertainment or mixed use.”… i.e., high density development)

See http://www.morrisvillelutp.org/news/CurrentDraft.html for details.

Transportation Plan

As proposed, Crabtree Crossing Pkwy will be extended to Town Hall Dr, drawing traffic from the congested Hwy 54 corridor through a residential community.  Also as proposed, Kit Creek Rd will be extended west to Davis Dr, also drawing commuter traffic through a residential community.

Instead of fixing Hwy 54 congestion, or delaying commercial development until Hwy 54 congestion is addressed, these plans envision a solution that diverts the traffic from this greatly expanded commercial development directly through residential areas.

See http://www.morrisvillelutp.org/news/CurrentDraft.html for details.

If you are concerned about the dramatic impact these new policies will have on the future of Morrisville, please plan on attending the following meetings (for more information, email morrisvilleaction.org):

Town Plans Excessive Traffic for Crabtree Crossing Parkway. Ultimately Crabtree Crossing Parkway to Become Part of a Major Trafic Link Between I-540 and Cary Parkway.

We need your help to stop the Crabtree Crossing Parkway Extension (CCPX) from being approved as part of the Land Use & Transportation Plan (LUTP). While not yet funded, if the CCPX remains in the LUTP, the project can be given the go ahead at any time with little or no further Citizen input.

If the CCPX is built and connects through Town Hall Drive to the Triangle Parkway as planned, this route through residential areas will become a major traffic corridor between I-540/Durham Freeway (SR 147) and Cary Parkway. Ultimately, this will require additional traffic calming features which adversely impact area emergency response times.

Also, the associated increase in traffic through Preston will likely negatively affect our property values, it will more importantly be dangerous for the many walkers, joggers, bikers, and golf carts who use Crabtree Crossing Parkway every day.

While the Town has studied vehicle traffic (and there are widely conflicting reports on the amount of traffic increase), several leaders do not appear to understand that due to the golf course and railroad right of way, that virtually all pedestrian, bicycle, and cart traffic in the area is funneled onto Crabtree Crossing Parkway. Increasing vehicle traffic would be extremely dangerous.

Update: In their November 13th meeting, the PZB approved the Crabtree Crossing Parkway Extension (CCPX) for inclusion in the LUTP and leaves it to the Town Council for final approval. PZB made a special effort to craft the language to suggest (falsely) that there is a balance of support for and against the CCPX.

Please Contact Town Leaders to Voice Your Concerns by:

Emailing the board at towncouncil@ci.morrisville.nc.us

Calling your Morrisville representatives:

Jan Faulkner (Mayor) at 481-0122

Liz Johnson (Mayor Pro Tem) at 462-8859

Mark Stohlman (Commissioner, District 2) at 949-1403

Linda Lyons (Commissioner, District 1) at 469-1992

Mike Snyder (Commissioner, District 4) at 447-0456

Pete Martin (Commissioner, At Large) at 462-8182

Tom Murry (Commissioner, At Large) at 468-1213

Kit Creek Connector Study

Update: The Kit Creek Connector was approved. While the Town Council did try to put some limits on the extent of traffic that can use the connector, the final approval gave all control to the Toll Road Authority to develop the Connector. It is very likely the final Connector design will focus on meeting the needs of the new Triangle Parkway expressway, not the local community, since the Town no longer has any say in the matter.

The much anticipated Kit Creek Connector Study, commissioned by the Town of Morrisville and carried out by the Louis Berger Consulting Group, is now available online.

For details, see: http://www.morrisvillelutp.org/projectlib/documents/KitCreekRoadReconnectionStudy_9-3-2008.pdf

The study concludes that in 2035, Kit Creek Rd will carry 21,817 cars daily. Not surprisingly, the intersection of Church St and Kit Creek Rd is expected to perform poorly regardless of whether or not Kit Creek Rd is extended. The consultant recommends a southbound right turn lane and signal at the T intersection, but notes that those changes will “improve operations minimally.” Because the intersection is constrained by the RR and existing structures, the feasibility of adding additional lanes is poor.

Comments can be submitted via email to:

ajones@ci.morrisville.nc.us (Ashley Jones, Planner)

bhitchings@ci.morrisville.nc.us (Ben Hitchings, Planning Director)

PlanningBoard@ci.morrisville.nc.us (Morrisville’s volunteer Planning and Zoning Board)

towncouncil@ci.morrisville.nc.us (Morrisville Town Council – This new email address is effective immediately.

Additional Town leadership contacts at listed below.

In addition to your input on the LUTP, we ask that you help us by submitting any issue of concern to your neighborhood or any town-wide topic for discussion to MorrisvilleAction.org.

Results of Sept. 2, 2008 Land Use and Transportation Plan Meeting

At their September 2nd work session, Morrisville’s Planning and Zoning Board discussed major and minor plan issues as identified by staff and PZB board members. Further discussions will be forthcoming, perhaps as soon as September 8th at the 6:30 PM meeting of the PZB and Town Council. At present, the P&ZB is scheduled to vote on the plans and forward a recommendation to the Town Council on September 11th.

Most surprising statistic offered by the consultant: per online surveys, which does NOT agree with comments offered in public, the town needs more retail and restaurant offerings but has enough or too much residential.

Meeting room logistics were less than optimal, with most attendees seated outside of the conference room and outside of earshot. Per town staff: “Based on the public interest expressed last night, we’ll look for a larger space if either of the boards want another work session for this project”.

Major Issues:

• Desire to further highlight the need for NC54
• Concerns about the potential impacts of Crabtree Crossing Pkwy Extension on nearby neighborhoods
• Desire for more areas to be designated for single family detached residential uses
• Concern about the size and potential impact of the southern (Park West Village area) Regional Activity Center shown around Cary Pkwy, NC54

  and Morrisville Pkwy

Minor Issues:

• Impact of NC54 on residences south of Airport Blvd
• Timeframe listed on plan
• Consider planning more low density residential development along Slater Rd
• Office use shown on east side of Church St between Treybrook Dr and McCrimmon Pkwy
• Concern about location of proposed medium density residential shown adjacent to Lake Crabtree
• Proximity of proposed bus routes to major residential development
• Lack of streetlights shown for Morrisville-Carpenter Rd
• Desire for data on projected congestion levels in near term
• Connect greenway that appears to dead end in Providence Pl
• Show sidewalk on LittleDr/Mason Farm Rd connection
• Lack of bicycle connector on Cary portion of Davis Dr
• Consider designating Morrisville Pkwy as a major thoroughfare
• Coordination of Town and Turnpike Authority plans regarding the possible reconnection of Kit Creek Rd
• Concerns about opportunity for PAC input and discussion
• Concern about the number of activity centers that the town can support
• Concern about extension of Triangle Pkwy to McCrimmon Pkwy

Results of August 14, 2008 LUTP Public Hearing

The public voiced its concern that the proposed LUTP Plan is not balanced, and resident and PAC input is not reflected in Plan.

Four residents, including two members of the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) – the citizen advisory committee created to help craft the plan – voiced disappointment that the Land Use & Transportation Plan (LUTP) presented to Planning & Zoning Board (PZB) on August 14th did not accurately reflect input from citizen surveys and the committee. Too little land was designated for low/medium density housing and too much land was reclassified for commercial and dense residential in expanded Regional Activity Centers (RAC) (don’t be misled by this innocent sounding name. For Morrisville, RAC mostly means high density commercial development – see below).

MorrisvilleAction.org, represented by Ty Elliott, spoke out against the dramatic increase, to approximately 5 times as large, in land classified as a RAC surrounding Park West. The Shiloh Crossing RAC also has been greatly expanded and nearby undeveloped land zoned for Office & Industrial. Ms. Elliott also asked that the extension of Crabtree Crossing Parkway be removed from the plan.

A RAC is defined as “including a mix of uses, such as of [sic] office and institutional (including medical, senior, and child care related institutional use), entertainment, retail and major commercial land uses. Medium and high density residential uses should be included as part of an RAC if the area is located outside the Airport Overlay District” ([sic] means that the typo in this sentence is actually in the RAC statement). The complete LUTP and maps can be found at: http://www.morrisvillelutp.org/

Critical Planning Decisions to be Turned Over to Town Staff?

Morrisville Town leaders are considering a change to the town’s development process by delegating limited site plan approval authority to our planning director.  Likely, the process would be shortened by a minimum of 8 weeks if authority to approve…

Municipal buildings

Municipal parks

County schools

Hotels (currently allowed in Mixed Use, General Business and Industrial Management zonings)

Commercial  Buildings < 40,000 sq ft (about 3 times the size of a freestanding drug store)

Office & Institutional and Flex Buildings < 40,000 sq ft

All uses in previously approved PUDs (Planned Unit Developments)

Residential Recreation Centers

Residential Subdivisions, both attached and detached

Community Utility Facilities

All uses in the town center

…that fit current zoning were to be turned over to town staff. And while the move would indeed shorten the process, delegating approval authority to staff will severely limit input from residents, our planning & zoning board and our elected officials. It is unclear at this time whether or not residents living near proposals under staff review will receive courtesy notification prior to approval.

Have an opinion on the proposal?  Write to your town council at towncouncil@ci.morrisville.nc.us with a copy to planning director Ben Hitchings at bhitchings@ci.morrisville..nc.us.

Morrisville – The largest proposed tax increase in the Triangle is defeated. The Town approved a new budget that does not require a tax increase above revenue neutral.

The news is good… the approved Morrisville budget is based on a tax rate of .3665 per $100 of valuation.  That rate is just slightly below revenue neutral.  This is a long way from the 19% tax hike above revenue neutral that appeared imminent.

We now have a tax rate that is competitive with Cary’s and a budget that will maintain the level of town service we’ve come to expect.

Thanks go to Morrisville Action members.  We made a difference..

Town Council Contact Information

Have an opinion? Make it known by contacting your Mayor and Town Council at:

• Emailing the board at towncouncil@ci.morrisville.nc.us
• Calling your Morrisville representatives:

Jan Faulkner (Mayor) at 481-0122

Liz Johnson (Mayor Pro Tem) at 462-8859

Mark Stohlman (Commissioner, District 2) at 949-1403

Linda Lyons (Commissioner, District 1) at 469-1992

Mike Snyder (Commissioner, District 4) at 447-0456

Pete Martin (Commissioner, At Large) at 462-8182

Tom Murry (Commissioner, At Large) at 468-1213