Hotel with 80-85 Rooms Planned

The Zoning Hearing Board is expected to hear an application next month for variances for a new hotel at Route 1 at Old Street Road.

Project attorney Tom Hecker says his client, Harry Patel of Sal-Ben Realty limited partnership, is talking to several hotel chains about building an 80-85-room facility on the 2-acre vacant tract.

“Years and years ago, it was the site of the Golden Horse Inn,” Hecker said. “More recently, it was a used car lot that was troublesome to the township.”

Most of the land is zoned commercial but an 8,600-square-foot portion once owned by the township is zoned for residential use, he said. The variances being sought also relate to parking and storm water management issues, he said.

The application was delayed last month. Hecker said he asked for that delay in order to try to work out some concerns with a nearby property owner.

The lawyer said his client is excited about the prospect of a new hotel in Bensalem.

“The Route 1 frontage offers good visibility, and he feels the Bensalem area still has service opportunities for hotels in that area," Hecker said.

The Zoning Hearing Board is scheduled to meet Thursday, March 3.