Buckingham Makes It Official: Single Family Homes To Replace Warehouse Plan

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Calling it a big victory, Buckingham Township Supervisor Mike Bateman on Wednesday motioned to approve a court ordered stipulation agreement that officially ends a protracted battle over plans to build a 150,000 square foot warehouse in the township,

Under the agreement, developer JG Petrucci will withdraw its contentious plans to build a warehouse on the DiGirolamo tract off of Cold Spring Creamery Road and will instead seek land development approval for 42 single family homes.

“In my 23 years, honestly I have never seen a developer go for houses over something more. It’s awesome and a real victory for the community,” said chairwoman Maggie Rash in joining Bateman and Jon Foster in approving the stipulation.

“There will be no warehouse on that land forever,” proclaimed Bateman, who previously led the fight against the warehouse as the head of No Buckingham Warehouse, a grassroots group of residents who joined together to fight the warehouse plan.

Bateman outlined what he called a series of “big victories” contained in the agreement, signed off by a judge, the township, developer JG Petrucci and the grassroots group, No Buckingham Warehouse.

In addition to taking he warehouse off the table, Bateman announcd that there will be no development on the sod farm. “There will be no industrial development there," he said.

“We were also able to secure $750,000 in investment for the township parks from the developer. That will go into our parks fund and we’ll be able to use that.”

Bateman had previously talked about using the funds for pickleball courts and splash pads. “Hopefully the parks and recreation board will give some great feedback on what they think will be the best options.”

Bateman added, there will also be a sidewalk and path constructed in the area for the benefit of current and future residents. And he said there’s a requirement in the agreement that prohibits the homes from being built in the flight path at Doylestown Airport.

“Another big victory is the preservation of views along Cold Spring Creamery Road,” said Bateman. “The site lines will be preserved as you drive down Cold Spring.

“We’ve had some really big victories as we worked down through this,” said Bateman. “It was a long process, but it was a a team process.”

Bateman thanked JG Petrucci “for reaching out to No Buckingham Warehouse to actually sit down and begin settlement discussions. That’s what started all this, which was awesome to see.

“We’re getting some really great things with this agreement,” added Bateman. “And I’m excited for the three-quarters of a million dollars that we get to invest in our parks. That’s one I’m very excited about.”