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Altmire
focusing on two federal earmarks for Murrysville police
by Tom McGee, Staff
Writer - Murrysville Star/Tribune Review
August 28, 2008
U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-4) is
trying to secure two $100,000
earmarks of federal money for
Murrysville to use to upgrade
police communication and to buy
a program for use during crisis
situations.
Altmire said
Mayor Joyce Somers had
approached him to find funding
for both areas after he took
office last year. He had told
officials to let him know if
there was anything for which the
municipality could use
funding.... The meeting was not
advertised even though five
council members were present.
Meetings in which local business
is discussed with a quorum of
council present are required to
be advertised, under state law.
Click here to
read more...
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Legality of meeting questioned
by former Murrysville Council President
Lawrence W. Keller
August 20, 2008 - Penn Franklin News, Murrysville Star
Council and the Mayor still don’t get it. There was
an unadvertised meeting attended by 5 members of
Council, Mayor and Chief Administrator with Congressman
Jason Altmire where current Murrysville business was
discussed. This makes it a violation of the “Sunshine
act”. Mistake or not, there is a problem.
Click here to read more...
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The Comprehensive Plan –
Use When Convenient
by
Murrysville councilwoman Joan Kearns
August 18, 2008 - Penn Franklin News, Murrysville Star
During the many months of discussion regarding the
General Business Overlay (GBO) Ordinance the
Comprehensive Plan (2002) was used as a reason to create
and ultimately approve the GBO. One member of Council
clearly stated that the reason he was supported the GBO
was that it was recommended in the Comprehensive Plan.
Several Council members used the Comp Plan as validation
for the involvement of MECDC in crafting the GBO.
Click here to read more...
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Thank you
Murrysville Residents
August 18, 2008 - Penn Franklin News
By Dave Perry
I just wanted to say thank you for the time, effort, and support you have all
provided in fighting the General Business Overlay Ordinance. As I am sure you
have all heard, Council voted 5-2 to approve the Ordinance. The ordinance was
passed despite the fact that we had over 700 signatures on our petitions,
innumerable letters to the editor, and the solid support of the majority of
residents. Only Joan Kearns and Dennis Pavlik understood the adverse impact
that passage of this ordinance will have on Murrysville. Kacin, van deVenne,
Nicolette, Synan and Franke all voted yes. Further, Somers (the mayor)
supported it and advocated for its passage.
Click here to read more...
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Murrysville council approves zoning
overlay district
Thursday,
August 14, 2008
By D.
Clark Denison, The Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
After
months of meetings and debate,
Murrysville council passed an ordinance
that many say will spark a boom in
commercial development. As they have all
summer, opponents of the General
Business District Overlay plan filled
council chambers Aug. 6 and attempted to
persuade officials to vote down the
ordinance.
Click here to read more...
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Reaction to overlay vote a
developing story
by
Tom McGee Staff Writer,
Murrysville Star/Tribune Review
August 14, 2008
A petition with more than 700
signatures, a group of children
pleading for the future of
Murrysville and a concerned
former member of the planning
commission couldn't stop
Murrysville Council from
adopting a business overlay
district.
Click here to read more...
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A
betrayal to the people
August 11, 2008 - Penn Franklin News & Murrysville Star
By Bill Powers, Jr.
Those are not my words but the words of
Murrysville councilman Theo van deVenne in the November
28, 2007 council meeting over the Buncher property
re-zoning. Mr. van deVenne stated that “rezoning this is
a betrayal to the people that live around there” in
regards to the residentially zoned 50 acres in a request
by Manor Development to have it re-zoned commercially.
Click
here to read more...
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Murrysville council OKs commercial
zoning ordinance
Thursday,
August 07, 2008
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette
Murrysville council last night approved
a controversial zoning ordinance that
will allow some residential property
along main thoroughfares to be used for
commercial development. Dozens of
citizens packed council chambers again
to voice opposition to the General
Business District Overlay ordinance.
Opponents have argued for months that
the ordinance will allow big box stores
and generate additional crime and
traffic.
Click here to read more...
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Murrysville overlay district approved by council
By George
Guido- VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Despite the objections
of many residents in attendance, Murrysville Council
Wednesday night passed the controversial overlay
ordinance by a 5-2 vote.
Click here to read more...
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COUNCIL SHOULD
APOLOGIZE, NOT THE RESIDENTS
Murrysville
Councilman Dennis Pavlik
August 4, 2008 - Penn Franklin News
Wednesday July 30,
Council held a Town Hall Meeting on the General Business
Overlay ordinance. At that meeting it was disclosed
that a council member felt certain council members were
owed an apology from individuals opposing the ordinance.
Click
here to read more... |
The Pressure is On
Bill Powers,
Jr.
August 4, 2008 - Penn Franklin News
For those of you who have been reading
the recent comments made by certain members of the
Murrysville Council in regards to the public opinion of
the controversial Greater Business Overlay District
ordinance it’s very clear that the public pressure is
finally getting to them. Click
here to read more...
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www.TakeBackMurrysville.com
Linda Marts
July 28, 2008 - Penn Franklin News
To
All Residents of Murrysville, Export, White Valley,
Delmont, Dunningtown, Ringertown and Sardis: IMPORTANT!
If you have access to a computer, you must check out the
following web site:
www.TakeBackMurrysville.com If you don’t have
access to a computer, please ask your neighbor, friend
or family member or go to the Library to check this
out! Click here to read
more...
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Murrysville meeting
will focus on overlay plan
Thursday, July 24,
2008
By D. Clark Denison,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
To provide the public
with more information about the controversial
General Business District Overlay plan, Murrysville
Council has decided to hold an informational town
hall meeting Wednesday.
Click here to read more...
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Email to Chief
Administrator John Barrett - Income Tax
By Robert H. Gordon
July 13, 2008
I believe that the Municipality should be more
concerned about people moving to Murrysville not large
business that take away the services that a provided by
the majority of taxpayers. A good example would be the
Municipal Staff, you have a total of 59 employees, 10
live in Murrysville or about 16% to include the Chief
Administration who has not complied with the charter and
keeps getting waivers.
Click here to read more...
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Remind
councilmembers they answer to you, not the MECDC
July 10, 2008 - Penn Franklin News & Murrysville Star
By Bill Powers, Jr.
Did you ever get the feeling that the wool has been
pulled over your eyes? I must admit I have and I’m
probably not alone. When the Route 22 widening project
started years ago I personally thought it was excessive.
However, we were told that it was needed to relive the
traffic jams that existed in Murrysville?
Click here to read more...
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Town Hall Meeting Proposed by Residents
Linda Marts
July 9, 2008 - Penn Franklin News
And why not have a Town Meeting?
Why was Mrs. Kearns’ suggestion so carelessly
dismissed? Why do some on this Council not want the
entire community to know what is ahead for them?
Click here to read
more...
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Murrysville business district zoning
plan tabled
Thursday,
June 26, 2008
By D.
Clark Denison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The
residents of Murrysville succeeded in
compelling municipal council to delay
voting on a zoning plan that many say
would leave the community open to an
explosion of commercial development.
Click here to read more...
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No Monroeville in
Murrysville
By Dave Perry
June 25, 2008 - Penn Franklin News
This is only the first time in my 30 years as a
registered voter that I have been sufficiently dismayed
to write a letter to the editor expressing my concern
with a proposed municipal action. This letter is
related to the proposed Business Overlay District (BOD)
being championed by several members of Murrysville
Council and the Murrysville Economic and Community
Development Corp. (MECDC). Click
here to read more...
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The Overlay
District is not what Murrysville needs
June 16, 2008 - Penn Franklin News
By Bill Powers, Jr.
I
just read the article in the Penn Franklin News about
last week’s council meeting and I can’t believe that the
majority of the council members could be so dismissive
to the needs and wants of our community. Why are our
voices not being heard? I attended that meeting along
with many other concerned residents and it seems that
only Mrs. Kerns and Mr. Pavlik actually listened to what
the majority of the Murrysville citizens had to say.
Click here to read more...
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Residents say Murrysville council siding
with developers
Residential district zoning overlay
sparks accusations of favoritism
Thursday,
June 12, 2008
By D.
Clark Denison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Murrysville residents fought another
skirmish last week in their ongoing war
to keep developers and building projects
out of the community. They continue to
butt heads with a municipal council that
has tried several times in recent years
to formulate plans for commercial
development that its constituents will
accept.
Click here to read more...
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Hearing attracts
overlay supporters, opponents
June 12, 2008
by Tom McGee Staff
Writer, Murrysville Star/Tribune Review
Some Murrysville officials and
residents think a general
business overlay district would
provide better quality
developments in the
municipality. Others think it
would allow large commercial
centers to take over their rural
community. Both sides got their
say at a sometimes contentious
90-minute public hearing last
week.
Click here to read more...
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Officials
want say on overlay district
May 8, 2008
by Tom McGee Staff
Writer, Murrysville Star/Tribune Review
Still worried about the impact
development in Murrysville could
have on their community, Export
officials said Tuesday night
they want input in Murrysville's
business overlay district. At
the Export council meeting,
Councilwoman Melanie Litz asked
for an update on a proposed
joint-municipal agreement
between the two communities,
and, she said, she wondered if
such an agreement would enable
borough officials to have a say
in the overlay district.
Click here to read more...
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Big boxes set for
Route 22
300,000-sq.-ft.
center aims for Murrysville
Friday, June 1, 2007
Pittsburgh Business Times - by Tim Schooley
A wider road equals
bigger stores. That simple equation is helping to bring
another big box retail project to once-sleepy
Murrysville and its growing U.S. Route 22 corridor that
was expanded to four lanes last year.
Click here to read more... |
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