A BALANCED GROWTH APPROACH
My Balanced Growth and Closing Message:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.s.rao/videos/366679538492157/?t=33
During this campaign, I have knocked on over 3,000 doors, and I am aware of the concerns that we need to slow down high density development in Morrisville. I thank each of you for sharing your concerns, particularly residents in Kitts Creek and other communities.
I will commit in my next term to stick to the unanimously approved Land Use Plan, which moved many of high density zoned parcels to medium density residential and even single family residential. As we need to grow Affordable Housing in the Town, I would look at Apartments or Town Homes, at the McCrimmon Sub Area, or the Town Center, but would no longer support rezonings to high density development in areas designated Medium Density or Single Family Residential.
At the end of the day, I believe that we need a Balanced Growth Approach to Development. Stopping all development and rapid development are the extremes and should not be our only path forward. I heard during the Forum that we need to slow down development so we can catch up on our Infrastructure. If we can have places for Triangle workers to live (50,000 come to Morrisville to work, we can truly be the best place to Live, Work and Play and support our small businesses.
Let me be very clear that any conditional rezonings we have approved enforce the Developer to invest in our transportation, and parks infrastructure, along with adding to our Affordable Housing Stock.
For example, our most recent rezoning at 0 Slater Road resulted in the following infrastructure investments:
- Road Construction: $1 million
- Parks/Greenways: $700,000 (Parkland Payment In Lieu)
- Affordable Housing: $3.5 million investment in Affordable Housing.
- School Capacity: No more than 50% of project would be two bedrooms.
Let me end with two numbers for $81 million and $800,000. $81 million is the revenue projections to Wake County coffers and $800,000 to the Town of Morrisville. We can invest in school, transit, transportation, parks, and hire more police/fire fighters with these dollars.
Balanced Growth and partnerships which invest in our Town are what we need moving forward but we must slow down the rate of high density development.
Finally, on a personal note, if elected to a fourth term, I will not accept checks from Developers while I am on the Council. Any development I have approved was du to the investments in our transportation and parks infrastructure.
GETTING THE JOB DONE IN MORRISVILLE
During the Forum, I hope I was able to demonstrate that I am the only candidate in the At Large Race with the experience, and relationships to continue to Get the Job Done every day for our Town. It has been an honor for me to serve you for the past decade. It has taken vision, investment, and a great team to be named an All-America City by the National Civic League and one of the top places in our nation to live, work, and pay.
During my tenure, I have supported investments in transportations, new schools, parks and technology to ensure our citizens can truly Live Connected and Live Well in Morrisville.
In my fourth term, I will continue to invest in these areas, focus on growing innovation, and will continue t lead the Town of Morrisville to be the Smartest City in the state and nation.
Please visit www.steverao.com for my Morrisville Play Book, let’s work together to call the Plays so we can move the Town Forward, always!
View my Playbook! Send me your ideas!
MY “GET IT DONE” JOB RECORD FOR MORRISVILLE
New Jobs: Growing entrepreneurs in Morrisville with Chamber HOTTovation program. Worked to recruit Invitae, Syneos Health, and Apple to Morrisville.
Schools/Education: RTP Wake Tech Campus, Parkside Elementary in 2019, Working to bring a new Public High School and an Early Career STEM High School next year. (Wake Tech Tech RTP), Supported Education and Advisory Committee. Successfully Lobbied for Alston Ridge Elementary as base school for Kitts Creek residents.
Transportation: Worked with NC DOT to receive $250 million investment for Morrisville DOT Road Projects in next ten years. Voted for and supported $9 million Morrisville Carpenter Road Project, and fully supported the $25 million McCrimmon Extension.
Parks and Recreation: Supported $15 million investment in Parks/Greenways, including Church Street Park (Professional and International Cricket), Northwest Park, Crabtree Hatcher Greenway, MAFC Renovations. Healthy Food Hub, Wake Competition Center.
Technology: Led efforts to launch Google Fiber in Morrisville, Launched Open Data and Smart City Initiatives, Established a Smart City Advisory Committee.
Keeping us Safe: Supported $3.6 million in Police and Fire in last two years.
Affordable Housing: Voted for a $3.5 million affordable housing investment as part of conditional rezoning.