New Zoning District Ordinance Scrapped In Bensalem Township

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —The township has reversed course on a new zoning ordinance that was to serve as a compromise among business owners worried about losing their property development options along the Delaware River waterfront.

Instead, R-55A is no more.

"The best thing to do was take a step back and reset the zoning situation," Township Solicitor Joseph Pizzo told the council at its Jan. 9 meeting. "We will restore zoning to what it was for 17 years."

In late September, township officials came up with R-55A, which would create a new zoning district that would focus on the development of the waterfront —properties between the Delaware River and Route 95 —and also maintain light industrial usage for those businesses.

In a meeting before more than 30 people, township officials said the new measure would address and fix issues after several prior public hearings in which business owners and residents provided what Pizzo then described as "overwhelming commentary" about their property development options.

"As council will recall, after the township received responses and feedback, we started the process of creating a new zoning district R-55A which would have further rezoned and restored uses," Pizzo said at the Jan. 9 meeting.

But after executive session meetings discussing an appeal that was filed regarding the new ordinance, Pizzo said it would best serve the township to "repeal and negate R-55A and reset zoning to exactly what it was prior to August 2022."

Pizzo said the move would put an end to proceedings regarding the appeal filed against the township.

"That is called 'going forward into back,'" Council President Edward Kisselback said.

Officials had 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.