Bensalem Wants Changes On Drexel Property Plans: Report

BENSALEM, PA — Bensalem Township council members want more changes to be made to development plans at the former site of the National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel.

The Intelligencer reports that council on Monday night told developers they need more assurances. Among them: that the site's motherhouse, which was once visited by people from around the world, won't be knocked down or turned into a restaurant.

Developers, who want to put a 605-unit mixed-use community on the site, have said they would never do so, but council members noted that a future developer could under the zoning changes being requested, the paper reported.

Nailing down plans for the property off of Bristol Pike, which remains the site of Drexel Hall, St. Elizabeth Chapel and cemeteries, has been a long time coming.

In October, Bensalem's zoning commission rejected plans for the Drexel property. Developers from Aquinas Realty said at the time they would rework their plans.

After a three-hour hearing on Monday, council members tabled two proposed ordinances without a vote, saying the township and developers need to work together on substantive changes to the proposal.

To read the full Intelligencer report, click here.

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