Have you noticed the new signs posted along Morriss/Gerault? Phase 1 is about to start and you will be seeing equipment out shortly.
REST ASSURED, this is only Phase 1. For those of you who might have been out of the loop, Phase 1 entails intersection improvements (i.e longer turn lanes etc), fence replacement program, widening of Gerault from FM2499 north to FM3040 as well as the flyover at FM2499 (the flyover is yet to be funded).
No part of Morriss Road will be widened during this phase (except from improving the intersections).
Phase 2 will start when Phase 3 of the Riverwalk Project is complete or 2014, whichever comes first. The RiverWalk Project is in bankruptcy and we have no indication if/when Phase 3 will ever be initiated.
Last year we had a hard battle with our Town trying to stop this project. We lost majority support in the Town Council by 27 votes. We cannot let this battle be lost over 27 votes.
It is not to late to stop Morriss/Gerault Phase 2 from ever getting of the ground.
There are 3 candidates that support our cause. They respect the residents of living along Morriss Road and hear our concerns. They are also concerned about gas companies and their quest to expand gas operations in town. They want to comply with our Master Plan and the Smart Growth Plan.
We ask for you VOTE in the upcoming election.
Our pick are:
Melissa Northern for Mayor
Al Filidoro for Place 2
Steve Lyda for Place 4
Remember NFL
I personally endorse each and one of these candidates
Bjorn Vandug, Flower Mound
For voting times & locations, please visit
http://www.flower-mound.com/voting/elections.php
Let's take a look at how the Council has been voting over the last five months:
ReplyDeletePart 1
December 7th ,2009 Council Meeting – Tom & Al Vote For R.O.W. or Condemnation of Land for Morriss Rd. :
Mayor Pro Tem Levenick moved to approve the purchase of rights-of-way, in
association with the Morriss-Gerault Improvement project not to exceed the settlement
amounts, plus closing costs, and authorize the Assistant Town Manager, or his designee,
to execute all documents at closing on behalf of the Town; and authorize the Town
Attorney, or his designee, to file condemnation proceedings against the property owner(s)
in the event a settlement cannot be reached. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Wallace.
VOTE ON THE MOTION
AYES: Filidoro, Dixon, Levenick, Wallace, Hayden
NAYS: None,
Question:
Are we going to condemn land for this project? I thought the Town said we didn’t need to acquire anymore land for the project?
December 17th, 2009 Council Meeting – Tom & Al Vote For R.O.W. for Morriss Rd. :
Mayor Pro Tem Levenick moved to approve the purchase of rights-of-way and easements, in association with the Morriss-Gerault Improvement project from The Flower Mound Market, Mialuca LTD, Gator Flower Mound, LLC, BLI Flower Mound, Ltd., Morriss Road Development Partnership, Empire Corporation, TADE Flower Mound, Ltd., and FLCT, LTD., FLSC, LTD., and FLST, LTD., not to exceed the settlement amounts, plus closing costs, and authorize the Assistant Town Manager, or his designee, to execute all documents at closing on behalf of the Town; and authorize the Town Attorney, or his designee, to file condemnation proceedings against the property owner(s) in the event a settlement cannot be reached. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Filidoro.
VOTE ON THE MOTION
AYES: Filidoro, Dixon, Levenick, Wallace, Hayden
December 17th, 2009 Council Meeting – Tom & Al Vote For Funding of Design and Property Appraisals for Morriss Rd. :
Consent Item:
7. Consider approval of Addendum No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with
Halff Associates, Inc., to provide professional engineering design services and
professional real property negotiation and appraisal services for the Morriss/Gerault
Improvement project, from FM 2499 to FM 407, in the amount of $187,500.00,
and authorization for the Mayor to execute same on behalf of the Town.
Question:
If we are only talking about Phase 1, why are we awarding money for Phase 2? Why aren’t Tom and Al insisting that we award these bids separately in case Morriss Rd. never needs to be widened? What a waste of money.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteFebruary 15th Council Meeting – Tom & Al Vote For Drainage Easments:
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dixon moved to approve the purchase of drainage
easements, in association with the Morriss-Gerault Improvement project, from Icarus
Investments III, Ltd., Verde Riverwalk Apartments II LP, 709 Enterprise Dr., LLC, and
Flozell J. Adams, not to exceed the settlement amounts, plus closing costs; authorize the
Assistant Town Manager, or his designee, to execute all documents at closing on behalf of
the Town; and authorize the Town Attorney, or his designee, to file condemnation
proceedings against the property owner(s) in the event a settlement cannot be reached.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Wallace.
VOTE ON THE MOTION
AYES: Hayden, Wallace, Levenick, Dixon, Filidoro
NAYS: None
Question:
Why are we paying for drainage easements for apartments in Grapevine?
MARCH 1st Council Meeting – Tom & Al Vote For Funding for Phase 1 :
Consent Item:
7. Consider approval of the award of Bid No. 20-10-B, subject to approval of funding by Denton
County, Texas, with TISEO Paving Company Inc., for the phase I construction of the
Morriss/Gerault Improvement project, in the amount of $14,011,110.29; and approval of an
agreement with TISEO Paving Company Inc., to provide for delay of notice to proceed for Bid
Alternate No. 1, and authorization for the Mayor to execute same on behalf of the Town.
Approved.
Question:
If we are only paving the Gerault section, why are awarding the entire $14 million? What is Bid Alternate No. 1? Is that the Morris Rd. section?
Part 3
ReplyDeleteMARCH 25th Council Meeting – Tom & Al Vote For Eminent Domain (but what land do they want?)
Consent Item:
9. Consider approval of Addendum 2 with Halff Associates, Inc., to provide professional
engineering design services and real property appraisal services; for the Morriss/Gerault
Improvement project, in the amount of $73,500.00, and authorization for the Mayor to
execute same on behalf of the Town. Approved.
REGULAR
Harlan’s Response:
I am writing in response to your email below. The Town of Flower Mound is the party that will pay the $73,500 to Halff Associates, Inc. The source of the funds is the Denton County TRIP 08 Bond Funds. We recently executed a $5,500,000 interlocal agreement with Denton County to help fund the project. The June 15, 2009, agenda item authorized the initial contract for engineering design services for the Morriss/Gerault improvement project and the March 25, 2010, addendum is for consideration of additional engineering design services.
As mentioned in the March 25, 2010, agenda item, the addendum will allow for additional services which include preparation of plans, specifications, an engineer’s estimate of cost for creation of additional plans, and specifications for Phase 2 of the project. Additionally, site plans and a real property study to support the acquisition of property is a part of the addendum. To improve some of the intersections throughout the project identified as problematic, we have to purchase additional ROW. As we progressed toward construction, we have determined that the above-mentioned services will be beneficial.
The additional services will require an estimated four weeks of work for the civil design team. The lion’s share of the design work for phase 2 of the project was funded as part of the June 15, 2009, agenda item.
Regards,
Harlan Jefferson
Town Manager
The Question is asked: Where is the land that is going to be acquired located exactly?
Harlan’s Response:
The Town of Flower Mound is in the process of negotiating the purchase of several parcels of land. Therefore, such negotiations and/or possible lawsuits prevent us from releasing certain documents. However, any documents associated with items already closed or settled can be released to the public. I recommend that you contact our Town Secretary, Paula Paschal, to submit an open records request for the documents that interest you.
Best regards,
Harlan Jefferson
Town Manager
Part 4
ReplyDeleteApril 5th Council Meeting – Tom & Al Vote No To Rezone The Riverwalk To build More Apartments (What happened to all the retail shopping we were promised?) The Measure Passes 3-2.
Regular Items:
Approved the request for rezoning Z 01-09 – The River Walk at Central Park, Apartments to
amend The River Walk at Central Park Zoning Ordinance No. 46-08, by amending Section
2.3, Residential Density, by adding language that allows the first phase of development to
exceed the fifteen percent (15%) cap on sub-700-square-foot, multi-family dwelling units per
building provided that the overall number of multi-family units containing less than 700
square feet of floor area do not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of all multi-family dwelling units
constructed during the first phase of development, and adopted Ordinance No. 23-10
providing for said amendment. Vote 3-2 (Councilmembers Filidoro and Hayden).
Approved Site Plan SP 14-09 – The River Walk at Central Park, Apartments to construct an
apartment complex, and acceptance of Park Development Fees in the amount of $426,116,
and cash in lieu of land in the amount of $1,089,681 to satisfy the requirements of the Park Land Dedication Ordinance as outlined within the development agreement for The River Walk at Central Park Development. Vote 3-2 (Councilmembers Filidoro and Hayden).
Question:
Does this mean we let TRWCP pay us of off to not build the park they promised in the original deal? What happened to all of the wonderful shopping that was supposed to be built? Oh yea, the Riverwalk project is bankrupt, so instead of stopping the whole project, we are going to let them off the hook and just build apartments. Thank you Tom and Al for voting NO.
April 19th Council Meeting – Tom & Al Vote Yes To purchase more ROW
Closed/Open Meeting:
Approved the purchase of right-of-way, in association with the Morriss-Gerault Improvement
project, from Flower Mound market, LTD., not to exceed the new settlement amount, plus closing costs, and authorize the Assistant Town Manager, or his designee, to execute all
documents related to acquisition of the property on behalf of the Town. Vote 5-0.
Approve the purchase of right-of-way, in association with the Morriss-Gerault Improvement
project, from Gator Flower Mound, LLC, BLI Flower Mound, Ltd., and JPMorgan Chase Bank
National Association, not to exceed the new settlement amounts, plus closing costs;
authorize the Assistant Town Manager, or his designee, to execute all documents at closing
on behalf of the Town; and authorize the Town Attorney, or his designee, to file
condemnation proceedings against the property owner(s) in the event a settlement cannot be
reached. Vote 5-0.
Question:
Why is the Town breaking its promise again and purchasing ROW with a threat to our local businesses that they will take it through condemnation if they don’t play ball.
Draw your own conclusions.
Six lanes on Morriss should help keep what happened in this blog banner picture from happening.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJane: I don't understand what you are trying to say.
ReplyDeleteAll: I have no passionate opposition to the candidates endorsed in the blog. However, I inquired about their positions on Gerault/Morriss and the two that responded (Lyda and Northern) were quite vague and evasive. Clearly, they stated no opposition to the expansion. Clearly, they did not support those opposed to the expansion.
The expansion will happen. It is really, really sad. It's a huge waste of resources and a completely inappropriate expansion. There simply is no need -- now or down the road. If the Riverwalk development is the excuse, then the Riverwalk development an inappropriate development for that location.
This road expansion will serve two groups: developers and the fine folks of Highland Village as they sail through Flower Mound.
Very sad.
A friend has mentioned some smart ideas regarding Morriss. Primarily, there are various northbound spots in which a separate right turn lane would dramatically improve traffic flow. Such changes would be dollars wisely spent, less disruptive overall and effective.
ReplyDeleteGoing south from FM 3040, I just don't see the point in expansion and that impacts less residential areas than north of FM 3040. But what is the point of connecting a bigger "pipe" to FM 2499 when FM 2499 cannot handle the morning rush as it is? I never have to wait more than a cycle or two at FM 2499 and Gerault during rush hour. That's perfectly reasonable.
Oh, wait. Now maybe that will prompt them to consider expanding FM 2499. I take that last paragraph back. What we should expand is the road in front of the mayor's house.
All of us know that phase one as Bjorn had stated includes areas north of 3040, Intersection improvements, additional traffic signals, some slowdown right turn lanes, visability improvements, landscaping, fences and improved safety concerns. We all know that at the corner of 3040 and Gerault, the lanes do not match up and there is a vacant lot on the east side of the road. I would assume the ROW purchases had to do with that plot of land and some plots of land at the intersection of Gerault and 2499. We know that if Al and Tom hadn't worked a comprimise last June, the entire project would be in full swing today. That is a fact and we all know it. At every debate and at every candidates meeting Al,Steve and Melissa have be rather concise on what they would like to see happen to phase 2. Their opponents are also adamant on the fact they want phase 2 without traffic studies, without the completion of the Riverwalk ammenity and without the 2.2 million dollars that the original developers had agreed to. I really don't understand the points to Bobs questions. Does he think Al and Tom and if Melissa and Steve are elected, they are just lying to us? I don't believe so and to think that defeating Al would be a good thing for the town of Flower Mound? That is crazy. Whether you personally like Al and Tom or not, they are willing to make sure that NOTHING gets built unless it is 100 percent nessesary.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing we know for sure about the Riverwalk is a Hospital and some apartments. Others are trying to arrange financing to bring it out of foreclosure, but you and I both know there are no banks willing to make the same mistake the bank that lent Cole the original money. If Smith keeps a majority, that land will go to "mixed use developement", translated lots of apartment, guaranteed. A wish for some retail, extremely iffy at best. And oh yeah, no jobs to go with those apartments. I am confident that just as we have said all along, the traffic numbers will not materialize and Morriss Road will remain 4 lanes. Your stats are great and the facts of the votes are part of record, but where is the smoking gun?
Addressing a few of Bob's statement,
ReplyDelete1. December 17th meeting, There are parts of Morriss Road included in phase one (see above post)
2. Riververde apartments are in The Riverwalk, not The Riverwalk apartments on 2499 in Grapevine.
3. Phase 1 is costing 14 million. no money left for phase 2 without developers funds and ammenity. No River, no road.
4. April 5th Tom and Al voted no on the change to the original apartment plan. your point is? If we had a majority it would not have happened at all.
5. Look at a map, there are no business to threaten, Its the vacant lot at 3040 and Morriss.
Again where is the smoking gun?