Borough Council Recap

From the BCCT.

First off, congrats and good wishes to Councilman Albertson.

Now let's check the box scores:
* Dems 6, GOP 2 (a big swing from the GOP control of a few months ago)
* Council 3, PJRP 0 (this most recent defeat for PJRP might be better to call a forfeit since the plans were withdrawn. Anyone know the scoop on that?)
* Citizens: zero tax relief (let's hope Councilman Albertson can help turn that around. Can we afford to wait another year to sweep out the do-nothing council?)

Memo to the Dems: The GOP may have ruled the roost for many previous years, but you're in charge now. If you don't get your collective act together and get new life in this town, you'll be tagged with the error on the play and be relegated back to minority status.

P.S.: Go Phils!

Council appoints Democrat to fill vacant seat

The Morrisville Borough Council appointed Democrat Edward Albertson to fill a council seat left vacant last month by Republican George Bolos.

Albertson, who works for the Public Service Enterprise Group energy company in New Jersey, Monday night edged out Fred Kerner, vice chairman of the Morrisville Democratic Club, for the Third Ward council seat in a 4-3 vote.

Council Democrats Eileen Dreisbach and Rita Ledger, as well as Republicans Jane Burger and Stephen Worob voted to nominate Albertson. Democrats Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta and David Rivella voted for Kerner, who works in the mail room at Rider University.

The face of the eight-member board is now made up of six Democrats and two Republicans.

Albertson was sworn in by District Judge Michael Burns. He shook hands with his new colleagues and took his seat behind the council’s dais.

Bolos resigned last month because he moved to Virginia with his family.

In other business Monday night, the council unanimously denied preliminary plans for an office building at East Bridge Street and North Delmorr Avenue that was developer Penn Jersey Real Properties’ second attempt of sorts for a Morrisville Gateway Center.

The controversial Gateway Center proposal was killed in May by a lack of council support. A month later, Penn Jersey proposed an office building that was less than half the size of the Gateway Center proposal.

The council denied the second project because Penn Jersey withdrew its plans, officials said.

The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Penn Jersey officials for comment.

Council Meeting Recap

From the BCCT

PUBLIC MEETING WRAP
Morrisville Council

215-295-8181
When: Monday, Sept. 15.

Issue: Resolution to adopt the comprehensive plan created by the Morrisville and Bucks County planning commissions.
Vote: Approved 8-0 by Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta, George Bolos, Jane Burger, Eileen Dreisbach, Rita Ledger, David Rivella, Stephen Worob.
Impact: The plan serves as a roadmap for future physical development in the borough.

Issue: Accept the resignation of Bolos from the borough council and the Morrisville Municipal Authority.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Authorize borough staff to enforce procedures under the dangerous structures ordinance regarding 37 Harrison Ave.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Resolution for Morrisville to adopt the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s NIMS concept for emergency planning.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Approve a planting project and support the TreeVitalize grant application as requested by the Morrisville environmental advisory council.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Extend Williamson Park hours to accommodate the Morrisville Rotary’s carnival from Oct. 2 through Oct. 4.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Ratify grant application to the PA Council on the Arts.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Appoint Panzitta to the cable advisory board; Pat Wilcox to the recreation advisory board; Andrew Redmond to the zoning hearing board; Don Diretto to the Morrisville economic development corporation.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Appoint Judith Frigerio to the Morrisville economic development corporation.
Vote: Approved 7-1. Worob voted against.

Issue: Appoint Marc Neglia to the economic development corporation.
Vote: Approved 5-3. Sherlock, Panzitta and Rivella voted against.

Issue: Resolution to apply for Bucks County Community Development Block Grant program. Vote: Approved unanimously.
Impact: Borough Manager George Mount recommended the council use any grant money to put an emergency generator at borough hall, which serves as Morrisville’s emergency command center.

Issue: Pay bills; renew borough’s membership with the Friends of the Delaware Canal for $100; pay A.M. Mechanical Contracting Inc. $7,758 for Morrisville Library boiler replacement; pay L.C.Costa Contractors Inc. $266,107.17 for West Bridge Street curb and sidewalk replacement.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Accept July 21 meeting minutes.
Vote: Approved 7-0-1. Ledger abstained.

Issue: Accept Aug. 12 public hearing minutes.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

October 21, 2008: Bolos Replacement Day

From the BCCT. Anyone have anything to say to George and family?

Bolos resigns from council
The council has 30 days from Saturday to fill the vacancy.
By DANNY ADLER

Councilman George Bolos is leaving Morrisville, along with his seat on the borough council.

His resignation is effective Saturday, and then the council has 30 days to fill the vacancy, officials said.

Bolos, a Third Ward Republican councilman who’s lived in the borough for about 15 years, is resigning because he’s moving to Virginia.

Bolos said he will miss the borough and hopes the borough can revitalize its downtown business district, calling economic development “the biggest issue” facing Morrisville.

“[Officials] need to do something in the way of economic development in the downtown area,” Bolos said in an interview before Monday’s council meeting.

Bolos also resigned from the Morrisville Municipal Authority Monday night. He has served on various council committees, is the former chairman of the Morrisville Economic Development Corporation and board member for the Morrisville Community Pool.

He first joined the council when he was appointed in January 2002 to fill a vacancy left by now-mayor Thomas Wisnosky. Bolos’ resignation leaves only two Republicans out of the remaining seven council members.

“I will miss the people of the borough. There’s a reason people stay for generations. It’s a unique town,” Bolos said.

Borough Council Meeting tonight

From the BCCT.

We'll miss you George. Best of luck to you and your family in Virginia.

Morrisville council: 7:30 p.m., borough hall, 35 Union St. Agenda: public comment; regular reports; consider renewing membership with the Friends of the Delaware Canal for $100; consider payment for the Morrisville library boiler in the amount of $7,758; consider payment for West Bridge Street curb and sidewalk replacement in the amount of $266,107.17; consider resolution to apply to the Bucks County community development block grant program; consider appointments to the cable advisory board, economic development corporation and recreation advisory board; consider extending Williamson Park hours to accommodate the Morrisville Rotary carnival; consider planting project and support the TreeVitalize grant application; consider resolution to adopt FEMA’s National Incident Management System for emergency planning; consider authorizing borough personnel, engineer and solicitor to carry out enforcement procedures under the Dangerous Structures Ordinance; consider accepting Councilman George Bolos’ resignation from the borough council and the Morrisville Municipal Authority. 215-295-8181

Morrisville Borough Council recap

From the BCCT.

PUBLIC MEETING WRAP

Morrisville council
215-295-8181
When: Monday, Aug. 18.

Issue: Accept April 21 meeting minutes.
Vote: Approved 8-0 by nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta, George Bolos, Jane Burger, Eileen Dreisbach, Rita Ledger, David Rivella and Stephen Worob.

Issue: Pay bills; pay $64,165.68 to J.L. Gruber Contractor Inc., for curb and sidewalk replacement on South Pennsylvania Avenue.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Morrisville Rotary’s request to use Williamson Park for a carnival from Oct. 2 through Oct. 5.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Three projects to possibly be funded by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission’s compact authorization investment program; direct the borough manager and engineer to send a list of the projects and an application to the bridge commission.
Vote: Approved unanimously.
Impact: The borough wants to install new curbs and sidewalks on the north side of West Bridge Street from Harding to Cox avenues at an estimated cost of $100,000, the north side of Philadelphia Avenue between South Pennsylvania Avenue and Washington Street at an estimated cost of $70,000 and both sides of Washington Street between Philadelphia Avenue and Green Street at an estimated cost of $75,000. The borough was given approximately $1.5 million from the bridge commission for improvements to West Bridge Street and South Pennsylvania Avenue. Because bids for those projects came in low, the borough has a surplus of about $345,000. If these projects are approved by the bridge commission, that would leave the borough with an approximate $100,000 surplus.

Issue: Resolution for sewer extension for the Falkowski/Kulpinski subdivision at 130 Delaware Ave.; 2008 Labor Day Run following the previously established route; amend the resolution reducing membership of the UCC Board of Appeals from five members to three members
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Appoint Paul Kavanagh to a three-year term on the Morrisville Economic Development Corp.
Vote: Approved unanimously.

Issue: Appoint Karen Kane to a three-year term on the Morrisville Economic Development Corp.
Vote: Approved 4-0 by Burger, Dreisbach, Ledger and Rivella. Other council members voted for two other applicants.

Optimism, Vision, and Leadership! Oh My!

I know for a fact several members of the school board and the borough council are repeat readers and contributors to this blog, some openly, and some anonymously.

Here is a comment that was entered last evening that deserves its own posting. No one expects our elected leaders to be perfect. We just expect them to do what's right.

Some town in Virginia is going to be mighty lucky very soon. And the loss is all Morrisville's.

George Bolos has left a new comment on your post ""Pretend this meeting never happened"":

Peter,

I voted for you last year and I would support you for school board again! As you said a few days ago, we may not have always agreed with one another (although, I have come to better understand, appreciate and agree with most of your positions on the school)but we were able to communicate constructively and without animosity or hard feelings for one another's position. We both found that we did not have to rip each other's throats if we disagreed with each other's ideas. We talked, listened, evaluated and then decided if it made sense. As a community, all our leaders seem to know how to do is "slash and burn", crush each other and take no prisoners in the name of control and power. It's not working.

The responsibility for the governing and building of our community's future by both the school board and borough council has descended to what I consider to be an all-time low. Whatever happened to people with optimism, vision and most of all, leadership skills. Currently, we have very few leaders and mostly retreads from the past. It didn't work with them at the leadership helm then and it certainly is not working now. We do have a small nucleus of elected leaders to build from who are willing to work together, but overall I give most members on both boards a vote of no confidence. I am extremely upset to see what is happening to our borough schools and the lack of business development in our community. As long as we have people who bully, who proclaim to know what is in the best interest of our community, detracting from smart, steady growth, our community will be deprived of a business base and void of well-paying jobs. We will continue to lag behind the rest of the region, sooner or later falling into decay and becoming one large blighted borough; never to recover.

The problem is and has always been simple-It's not the teachers, the administrators, the students, our borough employees or the borough manager. It's the elected officials who were voted to represent the borough and the leadership left in charge to make these things happen! It's our lack of any semblance of a local economy or people with enough horse sense to make it happen. Borough Council has had the ultimate responsibility of generating the opportunities to bring in business and have failed miserably at this task, period! They have scared away most viable opportunities and are too stubborn to accept this responsibility. Without the needed tax base achieved by supporting our current business owners and developing a more vibrant, robust business community, both the borough and its school district will soon not exist.

The residents of Morrisville should evaluate the people who have been elected in these past elections. There are two options: If you are satisfied with the direction in which the borough is going, then simply keep the same people that currently hold leadership roles in place. If you have decided that you have had enough and want to start with some fresh faces and ideas, ones that better represent your vision, then find residents who will better represent your wishes and organize now!

Good luck and Godspeed!

-George

Gateway Redux

Oh...another swing, and another miss. The batter is down in the count 0 and 2.

He's really been struggling out there today. He just doesn't seem to have his rhythm down. He's really fighting hard to stay out of a slump. This is a batter with Hall of Fame stats who puts his all into every play.

Right you are. Here's the windup...and here's the pitch...

But instead of a mano-a-mano style duel between a pitcher and a batter, this is between Dan Jones and the Penn Jersey group versus a divided Morrisville, the Morrisville of the past and the Morrisville of the future.

I give Dan Jones high marks for his tenacity and perseverance. He's been metaphorically shot at and beaten down twice now, yet he's still standing. He's still looking to develop a more robust Morrisville of the future.

Dan: God bless. You're working with a borough council that is spineless at best. There's not very many leaders down there on Union Street, and we're sadly losing one of them. [Shout out to George Bolos: We need many many more visionaries like you on council.] I wish you exceedingly well on this third try to bring business back to Morrisville and I hope everyone supports you just as deeply as you're supporting Morrisville!


Developer proposes new site
By DANNY ADLER

A Morrisville developer, who had proposed the polarizing and now scrapped Gateway Center office complex, has filed plans for another office building at the same spot on East Bridge Street.

The newly proposed office building, a three-story, 20,000-square-foot structure, is less than half the size of the almost 50,000-square-foot Gateway Center, according to plans filed at borough hall by Penn Jersey Real Properties.

The building also would not require an inch of borough-owned land, unlike the Gateway Center that asked for anywhere from 2,000 square feet to 2 acres of land at the southern end of Williamson Park — one of the big issues that turned residents and some council members against the old proposal.

The Gateway Center proposal was killed last month when Morrisville’s borough council voted against the concept of the office complex. Supporters had called the Gateway Center a positive move to revitalize Morrisville’s downtown and aid in tax relief while others had concerns from parking and traffic issues to fears of losing borough-owned green space.

Borough officials said the plans for the new office building, dated June 12, will go to the planning commission for review.

Plans for the new building have it laid out on East Bridge Street between Central and North Delmorr avenues on land owned by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. In April, the bridge commission and Morrisville’s economic development corporation reached an agreement of sale of about 1 acre of land there. The economic development corporation would then sell the land to Penn Jersey.

The area where the complex is planned will contain the 20,000-square-foot building and two parking lots with 63 parking spaces combined. Thirty-one percent of the lot size will remain open space.

The plans are available for public view at borough hall, 35 Union St.

MV Borough Council Wrapup

Here's the wrapup of the council meeting from last week. What was accomplished? You be the judge. At least there was a resolution keeping the doggies safe. Taxpayers...ummm, not so much.

What did they do to lower our taxes?

PUBLIC MEETING WRAP

Morrisville Council
215-295-8181
When: Monday, June 16

Issue: Pay bills; payment to Morrisville Fire Co. for $25,000 and Morrisville Ambulance Squad for $7,000; request the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to transfer $56,000 from one of the curb and sidewalk projects to the median island and traffic signal installation project; award contract to Armour and Sons Electric for the median island and traffic signal installation project in the amount of $353,601.55 subject to the bridge commission’s approval of the fund transfer; have solicitor proceed to have referendum on the November 2008 election ballot to increase the millage to support the Morrisville Ambulance Squad to 2 mills, which is 1.5 mills more than permitted by the borough code
Vote: Approved 8-0 by Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta, George Bolos, Jane Burger, Eileen Dreisbach, Rita Ledger, Dave Rivella and Stephen Worob

Issue: Adopt ordinance amending Chapter 86 of the code of ordinances for collection of insufficient-fund charges
Vote: Approved unanimously

Issue: Final plan for Falkowski/Kulpinski subdivision contingent on requirements stated by the borough engineer
Vote: Approved unanimously

Issue: Advertise traffic ordinance with proposed amendments to Chapter 435 of the code of ordinances for vehicles and traffic
Impact: New traffic signs will go up throughout the borough.
Vote: Approved unanimously

Issue: Approve the tennis program presented by the National Junior Tennis League of Trenton
Vote: Approved unanimously

Issue: Resolution to establish recreation program director position
Vote: Approved unanimously

Issue: Resolutions supporting state House Bill 2532, addressing the cropping or cutting of the ears, tail docking, debarking or surgical birth of dogs by anyone other than veterinarians; House Bill 1065, pertaining to cruelty to animals; House Bill 2525, pertaining to animal kennels; and House Bill 2553, pertaining to dangerous dogs
Vote: Approved unanimously

Issue: Preliminary minor subdivision plan for Christopher Urban at 121 Grandview Ave.
Vote: Approved unanimously

Issue: Resolution to enter into a mutual aid agreement between the Morrisville Fire Co. and the Trenton, N.J., Hazardous Materials Team
Vote: Approved unanimously

Issue: Authorize solicitor to prepare and advertise an amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding signage
Vote: Approved unanimously

Postgame Analysis

Now that Gateway is deader than a doornail, it's time to look ahead.

According to the Bucks County website, here are the municipal results from the 2007 election:



Knowing full well that someone will correct me if this information is in error, Sherlock (W2), Panzitta (W2), Bolos (W3), and Rivella (W4) were elected for terms from 2008 to 2012. This should mean that a full slate of anti-Gateway council members are up for election in 2009: Burger (W3), Worob (W4), Dreisbach (W1), and Ledger (W1).

Let's start right now to ensure that these four vision-less "leaders" be defeated.

Gateway Vote Tonight. Call your council member.

Below is an email I received from Dan Jones, the developer of the Gateway project. While it was not asked of me to forward this, I believe it is important for everyone to understand the level of commitment Mr. Jones has for the project and for Morrisville.

Call your council member and let them know you want the Gateway project to continue.

Ladies and gentlemen –

Monday evening, May 19, 2008, 7:30 PM will be a pivotal and historic moment for the Borough of Morrisville. Don’t miss it.

After two years, the Borough Council will vote “yes or no” on the Gateway Center. I truly believe that a “yes” vote will mean a historic turning point for the Borough. But it will only happen if those who support the project are at the meeting.

Attend Monday night’s meeting. If you feel comfortable speaking at the public comment, do so and make a difference. If you do not feel comfortable speaking, cheer on those that do, and make a difference.

For the first time in two years the goal line is in sight. Be a part of this historic moment. In five years when you look at a wonderfully transformed Bridge Street, be able to smile and say,” I was there and I made a difference.”

Thanks to all for their continued support of the Morrisville Gateway Center.


Dan Jones
Penn Jersey Real Properties, LLC
56 E. Bridge Street, Suite One
Morrisville, PA 19067

(267) 799-4481 (O)
(267) 799-4482 (F)

danieljones@pennjerseyproperties.com

And another letter I received

Tonight at Boro Hall, council will be voting to show their interest (or lack of) in continuing to move forward with the Gateway project. Please come out and support this project and consider speaking at the mic. As many of us are busy with our daily lives, if you can't make the meeting, please call your ward officials and the ones outside of your ward too.

This will be the night when the naysayers will be strong. Don't let them outvoice us and allow them to force us to be silent once more. If you have never spoken before, now is especially your time to speak up. The more different faces and voices we have only show the support is larger than the usual suspects (on both sides of the fence).

Meeting starts at 7:30. Interviews for the Economic Development Council begin at 7:00.

Phone numbers to call:

MAYOR
Tom Wisnosky: 215-295-0439

COUNCIL MEMBERS 2008

President:
Ward 2: Nancy Sherlock 215-736-1264

Vice President:
Ward 2: Kathryn Panzitta 215-295-1264

Ward 3: George Bolos: 215-428-0667
Ward 3: Jane Burger: 215-736-1321
Ward 1: Eileen Dreisbach: 215-295-1914
Ward 1: Rita Ledger: 215-295-4344
Ward 4: David Rivella: 215-295-5030
Ward 4: Stephen Worob: 215-736-2987

Gateway Discussion at Agenda Meeting Tonight?

I received this email from a trusted source and would like to ask everyone who supports the Gateway projects to contact their borough council members. Let them know you support Gateway and that you expect their affirmative vote in council.

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

Heard that Gateway will be discussed this evening during the agenda meeting tonight at Boro Hall. Meeting begins at 7:30.

Also heard that a conversation was held with Jane Burger and that Ms. Burger mentioned that she CAN'T think of any reasons to support this project!!!

To put it simply, this could be the end of the Gateway project.

Please make an effort to attend and voice your opinion and call your ward representatives.

Update of Stockham Interests Burlesque

The BCCT covers the proposed burlesque club in the Stockham building with a bit more detail. Obviously, if you want more details, you'll have to come out to the zoning board meeting on May 5 at 7:30 P.M.

I'm a big fan of Gateway and would be very happy to see the Stockham building put to good use, but the second floor burlesque club is the deal breaker. We can do better.

Developer planning ‘burlesque’ lounge
A zoning hearing is scheduled for May 5 at borough hall.
By DANNY ADLER STAFF WRITER

This may not be the revitalization that Morrisville was hoping for. A “burlesque-style adult entertainment” lounge is being proposed for the second floor of a four-story masonry building on the southeast corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street.

The proposal also calls for a firstfloor restaurant and bakery, as well as a fitness center on the third and fourth floors of the Stockham building at 10 S. Pennsylvania Ave.

Stockham Interests LLC of Robbinsville, N.J., is scheduled to go before Morrisville’s zoning hearing board next month for a variance because the Stockham building is not zoned for adult entertainment, borough Manager George Mount said. The group also needs to go before the board for sign regulations.

A zoning hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. May 5 at borough hall, 35 Union St., and is open to the public.

The roughly 18,800-square-foot Stockham building, which used to be the home of the Record Collector music store, is roughly 65 percent vacant, according to a petition filed with the zoning office by Stockham Interests.

The “upscale restaurant” on the first floor and the adult entertainment lounge initially would not have liquor licenses and would be bring your own bottle, or BYOB, the petition said.

While many in town have said they want to see something done with the building, the proposal plan failed earlier this year to get endorsements from the Morrisville Economic Development Corporation, an autonomous corporation whose members are appointed by the borough council, according to Councilman George Bolos. Bolos is also a member of the economic development corporation.

In paperwork filed at borough hall, Stockham Interests says the proposal would contribute to the community by rehabilitating a municipal parking lot adjacent to the building.

Gateway Land Sale Update

Nice to see that Morrisville can appear in the local Trenton newspapers once in a while. Here's a story on the first step of the Gateway project land sale.

Land sale to create office park
To be built on former site of bar
Sunday, April 06, 2008
BY CURT YESKE
Special to the Times

MORRISVILLE, Pa. -- The former site of a nuisance bar on East Bridge Street between North Delmorr and Central avenues will be developed into an office project as a result of an agreement between the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission and borough officials.

The land was acquired more than 10 years ago prior to the renovation of the Lower Trenton Morrisville Free Bridge (the "Trenton Makes" bridge) and was considered excess land by the current members of the interstate agency who said the sale will help the Morrisville Economic Development Corp.'s effort at revitalization.

The commission agreed to sell the property -- which no longer has a bar on it -- for its appraised value of $100,000. Morrisville officials have said they in turn plan to sell the property to a private developer who plans to build an office park with a publicly accessible recreational trail.

In published reports, developer Penn Jersey Real Properties estimated the project would create 400 to 600 jobs and involve a 55,000-square-foot building.

"This property transaction will provide economic, recreational and aesthetic dividends for Morrisville," said Frank G. McCartney, the commission's executive director. "The borough has always been an important partner with the commission, and we are happy to be able to support its revitalization efforts."

"With this sale we are one step closer to bringing in new taxes and hundreds of new jobs into the borough," said Morrisville Councilman George Bolos, chairman of the development corporation. "We appreciate the commission's willingness to recognize the importance of this project in the future of the borough."

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