Tesla Dealership Construction Back On Track In Warminster

WARMINSTER, PA —After several weeks of delays, construction of the new Tesla dealership and service center —the first in Bucks County —is back on track.

Warminster Township Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes told Patch Thursday that the work at the old Pathmark property at 700 York Road resumed again on Monday.

He said the stoppage in construction was due to a "misunderstanding" about water and sewer permits that stalled the project. Township officials reported the delayat the supervisors' meeting earlier this month.

Hayes said that permits for water and sewer lines at the site off Street Road were approved, but had not been issued. He said there were also questions about where the lines would go.

Those issues were worked out and signed off by the Warminster Municipal Authority, Hayes said.

Construction on the old Pathmark property near Street Road started early last month after Tesla representatives closed on the property.

At the supervisors' meeting, Township Manager Tom Scott said that Tesla representatives had not complied with some township ordinances and there were issues involving dust plumes and working on Sundays.

"Compliance with our ordinances was very lax for years," Hayes said. That's why we've had so many issues. People would take advantage of us. Those ordinances are to protect the residents."

Hayes also said the construction zone isn't "well-secured."

"We have a little bit of an issue with that," he said. "But they own the property. If someone gets injured, it's their responsibility."

The Tesla dealership and repair garage service center could add 30-40 local jobs.

The Tesla dealership would be the first in Bucks County. Tesla has dealerships in King of Prussia, Devon, and Lawrence, N.J.

The project's cost is estimated between $6-8 million.

The 56,000-square-foot building sits on 9 acres across the street from Archbishop Wood High School and near Street Road. It had been considered by Lidl for another grocery store.

Tesla, the car company led by CEO Elon Musk, models itself on clean energy and designs and manufactures electric vehicles, battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels, and solar roof tiles.

Drake Motors Partners representatives said that Tesla wants the project completed and the dealership opened by year's end.

Hayes said that despite the delays, the timetable still seems within reach.