Land Use & Transportation Committee Member Speaks Out

Updated 3/11/09

Morrisville’s long awaited new Land Use and Transportation Plan (LUTP) was unveiled at the meeting of its Planning & Zoning Board on August 14 at Town Hall. During the Open House and Public Hearing, a number of citizens voiced concern with the Plan’s key recommendations. Having served on the LUTP Committee for its nine months of meetings, following is my critique of the proposal.

1 – LAND USE PLAN

A – Low Density Zoning: We are all aware of Morrisville’s major traffic problems and inadequate road infrastructure. Whether it is residential or commercial, planning for even more high density land use is like throwing gasoline on a fire. It effect, the limitations of the proposed Transportation Plan should impact the design of the Land Use Plan. Without solutions to the associated increase in automobile traffic, the Land Use Plan should have avoided designating land parcels for high density use. At the Land Use and Transportation Plan workshops and focus groups, a majority of the Town’s citizens clearly stated: “No more large development” and “Slow down growth.”

B – Residential Land Use: Most citizens seek Morrisville to “be a place to live, NOT a place to drive to.” Our Town’s primary appeal is being a residential community with desirable single-family owner-occupied homes. However, it has been estimated that approximately 20,000 residents from other municipalities drive into Morrisville to work and an additional tens of thousands drive through Morrisville to RTP and other job sites outside of our Town. I believe that the Land Use Plan should have concentrated on enhancing Morrisville’s appeal as an attractive residential community. Too many times the Plan diverts from this goal as well as proposing land use that significantly adds to the Town’s heavy traffic volume.

C – “Regional Activity Center” Designation of Parcels Surrounding Park West Village: The expanded area surrounding the planned “mixed use” shopping complex of Park West Village (almost 100 acres of retail and commercial outlets at Cary Parkway and Route 54) is predominately low-density single family owner occupied homes (Preston, Weston Estates, etc.). It is one of the prime residential areas in the Triangle. Planning for additional large “retail activity centers” around Park West Village may seriously impact the area’s value and appeal. There was no public support expressed for ADDITIONAL Regional Activity Centers at this location. This Land Use proposal is solely from the Town Staff.

2 – TRANSPORTATION PLAN

A – Route 54 (Chapel Hill Road): Citizens had overwhelming identified NC 54 as THE major issue for the Town. Unless this issue is dealt with, the increasing of traffic congestion will limit future growth. Citizens and Committee members wanted a detailed plan for needed improvements to NC 54. In the initial drafts, the Plan only cited NC 54 as a “problem.” Following strong prodding by the Advisory Committee, NC 54 was treated as a priority issue. However, the practicality of what is summarized as possibilities for NC 54 was never discussed by the Committee or presented to the public for consideration. NC 54 should have received major consideration and input from the beginning. It should have been the KEY recommendation in the written Transportation Plan.

B – Crabtree Crossing Extension: In the current Draft of the Morrisville Transportation Plan, considerable “public comment” is cited to have been made for the proposed Crabtree Crossing Extension. Not reported is the fact that almost all of it is opposed to the proposal. The Town’s most recent expense estimate for this road extension is at least 11 million dollars (it might be more like 20 million in today’s dollars). The Town now believes that about 2,000 autos would utilize the planned connector road daily. However, most of this traffic would feed into a limited travel street in a prime residential neighborhood. Considerable expense (to both Town and residents) would be needed to install traffic deterring and calming measures on Crabtree Crossing Parkway. Any minimal additional emergency response time that might be gained by the road extension would be more than offset by the obstacles and blockage caused the by the new traffic calming measures. The citizens overwhelming voiced rejection of this proposal. It will have to be constructed a phenomenal cost to the Town. To me logic and common sense indicate that it SHOULD NOT be included as a proposal in the Town’s revised Transportation Plan.

There is still time for the Town Council to make certain that the Land Use & Transportation Plan is what citizens asked for!

Remaining Meeting Scheduled . At Town Hall.
Tues, Mar 24 – 6:30 pm: Possible Decision

To view the 2008 Land Use & Transportation Plans, click on the following link: LUTP. Since the final Plan will set direction for Morrisville for decades, let your opinions be known in email: TownCouncil@ci.morrisville.nc.us

LUTP Advisory Committee Member