New Waterfront District To Restore Light Industrial Usage In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A new zoning district is being created in the township that will focus development on the waterfront —properties between the Delaware River and Route 95 —and also maintain light industrial usage for those businesses.

Meet R-55A, which township officials hope fixes issues and resolve residents' concerns over R-55. Township officials said they anticipate R-55A will go into effect in 90 days after meeting township and county planning board approval.

This measure comes after business owners at the council's Aug. 22 meeting complained about losing options to develop their properties. Township officials assured more than 30 people attending Tuesday night's meeting that the R-55A Riverfront Revitalization District should correct those concerns.

"This would create a new zoning district that would put back all light industrial uses," Township Solicitor Joseph Pizzo said. Pizzo added:

"This is the best way to adopt the ordinance by creating a new district and rezoning properties. We are restoring some of the uses that were proposed to be eliminated. This isn't to jeopardize or minimize, but to compromise."

Pizzo said that "overwhelming commentary" led to a discussion among township officials on how to best address concerns. He told the crowd that R-55 was established 17 years ago so the township "would undergo some transformation of the riverfront but it hasn't happened."

Officials hoped that the township, like other communities along the Delaware River, could create a waterfront where people could walk, shop and dine and enjoy the riverfront. Township officials still seek that goal for a residential and mixed-use area.

The new designation caused lots of confusion Tuesday night as Pizzo tried to outline the areas and changes. He even made copies of a map for residents and then tried to highlight the areas on a meeting screen.

"Anything you can currently do today in any of those properties, you'll be able to do once we are done with the process of creating the R-55A district," Pizzo said. "The only thing that would remain R-55 is everything on the river side of State Road, and everything that is between State Road and Renaissance Boulevard, between Street Road and Imperial Court. That rectangle — Street Road, Renaissance Boulevard, Imperial Court and State Road — will stay R-55. Those will no longer have the light industrial usage."

The council went into executive session for 20 minutes during the discussion as well before voting to approve two items:

• Consideration and a public hearing amending zoning for the R-55 Riverfront Revitalization District.
• Authorization to advertise an ordinance amending zoning to create a new R-55A Riverfront Revitalization District.

Both measures were approved, although Council member Joe Pilieri voted against the first.

"Why are we doing this in two phases?" he said. "Why not do it one-time correctly?"

The R-55A district still needs the green light from the Bensalem Planning Commission and the Bucks County Planning Commission. Council members said that they don't anticipate any approval issues during that 90-day window but will work with business owners individually if issues arise.