Planning board approves resolution on three private bridges proposed over Morrisville right-of-way

The Morrisville Planning and Zoning Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution transcribed in the meeting as authorizing execution of an encroachment agreement with SPARC (Spark) Infrastructure Owner LP for three private bridges that would cross public right-of-way. Mark Spagnoli, the town's director of engineering, told the board staff recommends approval and that the proposed agreement is drafted to require inspections, maintenance and legal protections for the town.

Spagnoli said the bridges are proposed as part of the Spark Development campus and described the basic terms staff has included: a minimum 16-foot clearance, annual structural inspections performed by a licensed structural engineer, documentation filed with the town, and an indemnity and insurance requirement that runs with the property. "The bridge has to have a minimum height clear of 16 feet that meets all the state and federal and local requirements," Spagnoli said during his presentation.

Applicant representatives described the operational need. Matthew Carpenter, speaking for the developer, said the request is administrative in nature if the structures meet UDO standards and that the bridges are intended to serve a large tenant occupying manufacturing space on the campus. Contractor Garrett (Garrett/Garretson) Brown explained one bridge will provide protected pedestrian access from a parking deck to a building while the other two will be conveyor-style structures for moving product and maintenance access: "No ink will be moving through the bridges. It's largely going to be paper product...not nothing flammable," Brown said in response to a board question about materials.

Board members pushed on inspection and long-term maintenance obligations: staff said the encroachment agreement requires licensed structural-engineer inspections annually, that the grantee (owner/tenant) is responsible for maintenance and repairs and must make repairs within 60 days after notice per the agreement language, and that the town could revoke the encroachment or remove unsafe structures if needed. Carpenter added that the agreement contains indemnity language so the town is protected from third-party claims related to the bridges.

A motion was made and passed to approve the resolution (transcribed as "2026-200-0") authorizing the encroachment agreement; the chair recorded the vote as carried unanimously. Staff reiterated the planning-board action will be followed by town-council review and any permits or additional staff approvals required before construction. The meeting transcript recorded the motion language as referring to "Mooresville Town Council," but staff and the meeting context indicate the item will proceed to Morrisville town council for the next step.

Next steps: staff said detailed bridge plans will be reviewed by town staff and that any construction will require permits, inspections and compliance with the town's engineering design and construction manual and all applicable state and federal laws.