Morrisville Land Use Plan 2021

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Waterbodies & Floodplains

Multi-Use Paths Morrisville’s residents have access to a network of sidepaths and greenways that support active recreation and provide access to parks, open space, and outdoor areas. Generally, in Morrisville, multi-use paths provide short connections between parks, open spaces, and immediately adjacent neigh- borhoods and commercial developments. Longer routes and connectivity across major roadways are limited and may involve side- walk elements and pedestrian crosswalks. In addition, various parks, community facili- ties, and activity centers are not connected, particularly in less residential areas east of NC54. As development occurs, the Town should identify opportunities to provide multi-use path segments that connect smaller networks and create longer routes throughout the community. This will support active recre- ation and greater non-motorized mobility in Morrisville, helping reduce congestion. A great example of a longer multi-use path project is the Crabtree Creek and Hatcher Creek Greenway that crosses under NC54, providing a valuable east-west connection for pedestrians. Coordinating both public and private efforts to add new connections should help establish a comprehensive network of multi-use paths throughout Morrisville.

Key Considerations ⊲ Connect smaller networks of multi-use paths together to create a more robust system throughout Morrisville, in accor- dance with the Comprehensive Transpor- tation Plan. ⊲ Continue to identify and update an inven- tory of preferred multi-use path connec- tions that should be prioritized, organized by public or private investments and time frame. ⊲ Continue to require that new develop - ments provide connections to existing, planned, and proposed multi-use paths and update the Town’s UDO to require these connections. ⊲ Work with property owners to consider newmulti-use path extensions on existing developments that provide connections to adjacent uses and key destinations. ⊲ Work with office and employment uses to prioritize multi-use path connections that will provide recreational opportunities and alternatives to motorized transportation for employees. ⊲ Coordinate with neighboring communities and regional partners to identify potential connections between adjacent areas and links to regional greenway and multi-use path systems.

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Morrisville’s waterbodies play an important role in the health of local and regional water- sheds. These include Indian Creek, Crab- tree Creek, and numerous smaller creeks and streams. In addition, there are several floodplains associated with waterways and tributaries in the southern and eastern areas of Morrisville. While few properties are directly impacted by floodways, construction and development could affect the health of watersheds, impact the flow of local water - ways, or cause flooding in the long-term. As growth occurs, Morrisville should continue to consider the impacts of develop- ment on local waterbodies and floodplains. This should include careful evaluation of how larger projects will affect hydrology on specific sites, with particular emphasis on stormwater runoff. While floodplains cover only a small portion of Morrisville, develop- ment in these areas should be discouraged. Key Considerations ⊲ Continue to consider and address the impacts of development on local water- bodies and floodplains through the appli - cation of state law, the Town’s UDO, and the development review process. ⊲ Review and update regulations related to waterbodies and floodplains to consider additional protections that should be incor- porated as part of site design and review. ⊲ Discourage development in floodplains and water recharge areas. ⊲ Encourage and incentivize best practices to reduce water runoff, such as permeable pavers, rain gardens, rain barrels, and other solutions. ⊲ Continue towork with regional and state partners to protect the health of watersheds and take part in cooperative initiatives.

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Note: This map only includes private parks and open spaces that are separately parceled. Additional private parks and open spaces that are incorporated as supporting uses on larger properties or developments are not shown. (May 2020)

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59 Morrisville Land Use Plan | Chapter 5 – Land Use Considerations