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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Gateway

While this does not directly apply to the current issues with our schools, it certainly does apply to the level of taxation in the borough.

Right now, the same people who stopped the school, supposedly to lower the taxes, are also opposing the Gateway project, which would generate tax revenue, lowering the tax burden on all of us. The logic seems sound. Up is Down, Good is Bad, Black is White. Paging George Orwell: It's 1984 in Morrisville and doubleplusgoodthink is alive and well.

Here is an email that I received covering some of the background on the project. I also have a Power Point presentation with more information on the project. As soon as I can get it posted somewhere I will, but if you want to see it ASAP, drop me a line and I'll email it to you.

(You asked for information on the Gateway Center. Please share the enclosure and this e-mail with those you think may find it of interest.)

The enclosed is the materials that I presented to the Borough Council on October 2, 2007 – now almost four months ago. This provides some very interesting information which I would be pleased to discuss with you and others interested in the project.


To give you the brief update from October – nothing has happened! A slightly longer answer follows …


The basic issue holding up the project for the last year and a half has been acquiring the land from – 1) the Bridge Commission, and 2) the Borough Council.


If I understand the Borough Council’s comments on Tuesday, they implied that the Council cannot do anything until we submit a preliminary development plan. If this is what they said, it is misleading.


As I explained to the Council on October 2, October 9th, and October 15th there are two aspects of the proposal that impacts the Borough Council – 1) approval of a preliminary development plan, and 2) agreement to sell land for the parking lot.


Preliminary Development Plan


The first item – the preliminary development plan – is a routine but costly part of the development process. Once prepared the preliminary development plan is submitted to the Borough Planning Committee and Zoning Committee which upon approval would ultimately require the Borough Council’s approval.


The Bridge Commission asked PJRP to submit a preliminary development plan before they would agree to sell the Morrisville EDC (who would sell the land to PJRP) the Bridge Commission portion of the project land. The Borough also wanted us to submit a preliminary development plan before they agreed to sell us their land for the project. PJRP objected to submitting a preliminary plan before having a purchase agreement with either the Borough or the Bridge Commission for two reasons –


1) It is a very expensive process to go through – over $50,000 – without having a commitment from either land owner that they are willing to sell their land; and


2) It is illegal, which the Borough Solicitor agreed with at the October 15th Borough Council meeting, and which has since been communicated from the Borough to the Bridge Commission. PJRP cannot submit a preliminary development plan until PJRP has an “economic interest” in the property to be developed. The preliminary development plan must come after a purchase agreement.


So, the bottom line with the preliminary development plan is that we cannot present a plan until we have a purchase agreement with either the Bridge Commission or the Borough. (The purchase agreement, by the way, would be contingent on the approval of the preliminary development plan. If the plan is not approved – neither the Bridge Commission nor the Borough is obligated to sell their land and we are not obligated to buy their land if the plan is not approved.)


Agreement to sell (buy) Borough land


This brings us to the “Catch-22” that the Borough has us. One, however, they have the ability to fix. As noted above, the preliminary plan must come after PJRP has an “economic interest” in the land. One way that PJRP gets an economic interest in the land is that the Borough enters into a purchase agreement with PJRP to buy the Borough’s land.


The Answer to the Borough Councils comment


So … If the Council or anyone else says “we can’t do anything until the developer submits a preliminary plan.”


A good response would be, “Doesn’t the developer have to have an economic interest in the land before they can submit a preliminary plan?”


The appropriate response from the Borough Council would be, “uh huh.”


A good response to that would be, “then if the Borough Council enters into an agreement of sale with the developer wouldn’t the developer be able to submit a preliminary development plan?”


The appropriate response from the Borough Council would be, “uh huh.”


A good response to that would be, “then why doesn’t the Borough Council enter into an agreement of sale with developer for the Borough land so that the developer can submit a preliminary plan?


I haven’t been able to get an answer to that question for four months now …


Dan


Dan Jones

Penn Jersey Real Properties, LLC

56 E. Bridge Street, Suite One

Morrisville, PA 19067

(267) 799-4481 (Office)

(215) 378-6279 (Cell)

danieljones@pennjerseyproperties.com


Huh? We've got a chance for 400-600 jobs coming INTO the borough and an estimated $300,000 in tax revenue, and we're not showing interest in moving forward? Both the borough and school district budgets are in the toilet and here's a hometown group who want to improve Morrisville and bring money in? Why is anyone stalling on the decisions for this project?

You need to contact YOUR ward's council members and tell them to move forward with Gateway. It's that simple. Go to the borough website from the link on the sidebar to the left and find your council members. Let them know you support Morrisville.

MAYOR
Tom Wisnosky: 215-295-0439

COUNCIL MEMBERS 2008

President:
Nancy Sherlock 215-736-1264

Vice President:
Kathryn Panzitta 215-295-1264

George Bolos: 215-428-0667
Jane Burger: 215-736-1321
Eileen Dreisbach: 215-295-1914
Rita Ledger: 215-295-4344
David Rivella: 215-295-5030
Stephen Worob: 215-736-2987

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

In addition to this everyone needs to go to the Boro Council agenda meetings (second Tuesday of each month) and regular meetings (third monday of every month) and speak out at the public comment session in favor of this project. Not just to say 'do it', but also to share their thoughtful (albeit obvious) reasons as to why we support it. These other individuals who seem to oppose progress of any kind will stop yet another critical project in our town if we let them, and we don't go to these meeting and speak, then we are indeed leeting them. We need to go beyond writing here and go out and speak!

Anonymous said...

"Huh? We've got a chance for 400-600 jobs coming INTO the borough and an estimated $300,000 in tax revenue, and we're not showing interest in moving forward? Both the borough and school district budgets are in the toilet and here's a hometown group who want to improve Morrisville and bring money in? Why is anyone stalling on the decisions for this project?"

This is a fantasy.
Take a look at the empty store fronts and the vacancies in the last construction boondoggle promising to bring more revenue to the borough. Toll Bros, responsible for destroying the environment and beauty of the region (ask the Bucks County Green party)also made similar promises, but I understand they bus in workers (I am sure someone here could correct me, if necessary). Not only that, but this latest land grab also robs the community of their shared commons--(now there is a truly progressive approach--steal from the people to benefit private special interests). Who will benefit is the construction interest. Period. And they will walk away after filling their pockets at our expense. It will bring no new business or jobs because the taxes are too high and surrounding communities have lower taxes and a better business climate.

Anonymous said...

Oh my, the ignornace of the baove individual is beyond rational comprehension. The downtown looks the way it does because of people like you. The land they are proposing to use is NOT used at all! Don't dare say it will take it away from the kids. I have 3 kids an dthey have never used that space, and would gladly welcome the revitalization of our downtown so that they had one that I would actually allow them to walk through. It is completed unused space. There is no better place to build such a building.
Also, Toll Brothers does not bs in their employees. How ridiculous of you. More lies.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous #2. If the land is improved, and the value increases, the tax rate for this land increases, regardless of tenancy. So your argument fails to hold water (Kind of like the canal during the flood). Every step taken to improve the downtown area of Morrisville is a step in the right direction. Besides, there is currently no revenue for the town nor for the SD from this unused parcel. While it is part of the park, it is a part no one really uses. Allow it to be built, guarantee public access to the levee path and the river, and it is a win-win. Drop your anger and resentment and find a way to make a positive difference. If you do, you'll find that you and everyone you contact is happier for it.

Anonymous said...

Since I'm a positive person I like the fantasy posted by Anonymous...aka Sharon Hughes.
Obviously,I'm crazy for thinking that if a big business brought 400-600 jobs to a small town, that it
would be a good thing. I thought if those several hundred daily workers ate,drank & shopped during working hours,that would be a good thing. I thought if we could start easing the tax burden from the residents, that would be a good thing. I guess the town I work in must also be in fantasy land.