parking lot to end all parking lots. To be sure, the $600,000 structure has not yet been approved. First briefing was 6/10 with a vote scheduled for 6/24.
It will be a lovely parking lot with 174 spaces, brick walls, landscaping, maybe a few $3200 custom recycling containers and an $800 trash can or two. Where is this parking lot you ask? Downtown. It's the Town of Morrisville Downtown Parking Lot, adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce. No, Morrisville does not currently have a downtown. If all goes as planned, we'll begin construction on a cultural arts center in 8 years, after the next revaluation and tax hike. So at some point, we may indeed need a downtown parking lot. But now? During consideration of the largest tax increase in the Triangle? Timing could be better on this one.
The near term parking lot purpose, from the Planning and Zoning Board discussion:
Mr. Goel asked if the parking lot was only to support the Town offices and the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Wadkins said Mr. Goel was correct.
At this time, parking doesn't seem to be a problem for town staff. So your 'Tis blogger has a suggestion, worth about what you are paying for it: the town should commit the $600,000 toward either fire station #1 or road improvements. Those are real needs. An upscale parking lot? Not so much.
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at least get your information correct. you really stretch any kind of truth. hope you are never in charge of anything.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you again.
My parking lot info comes from the town briefing at http://www.townofmorrisville.org/webAgendas/2008/20080610/2008-064.pdf The briefing item is titled "Town of Morrisville Downtown Parking Lot - site plan" and notes "During the Construction Drawing review process, items from the Street E Streetscape
Design Guidelines, where possible, shall be incorporated into the downtown parking lot
plan." The guidelines are clear and include specifics on brick, benches, landscaping, stop signs and yes, trash cans that run $836 a pop, a custom recycling container for $3250.
Perhaps you don't care for my suggestion to use the $600k toward road improvements or the needed fire station. Everybody has an opinion. Mine's changed a bit. Since your 'Tis blogger has verified that the money is coming from the $5.7MM public safety bond it cannot be used for road improvements. Fire station #1 most certainly falls under public safety. $600k is a good start toward the $3MM needed.