Horsham Is Rezoning The Former Navy Base. Learn Why It's Important.

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — A zoning hearing for the former Willow Grove Naval Base will take place next Wednesday.

The meeting is planned for 7:45 p.m. on June 11 in the Horsham Township Building.

The hearing is to start the rezoning process for the base property as per the
approved redevelopment plan. Click here to see the redevelopment plan.

The redevelopment plan was prepared with months of public input in large meetings and in small groups. The redevelopment plan has been approved by the federal government, Township Manager Bill Walker told Patch.

"As we work the more detailed zoning, we wanted to get an initial zoning put in place," Walker told Patch. "Sometimes, we are not sure what is happening or what will happen, so if anything does, good or bad, we will be ready."

Walker added that there have been "tens of millions of dollars" spent on projects in preparation for the redevelopment, and "we want to protect those investments."

He said the township is rezoning to be proactive, protective, and to continue to show good faith
with the U.S. Navy in continued negotiations.

The township sees the 862-acre base off Route 611 and Horsham Road as a mixed-use development that would include a town center, office park, and regional recreation center, along with some housing.

Here's what won't happen at the meeting:

• There is no property transfer at this time
• There are no land development plans
• No construction is occurring at this time.

The former Willow Grove Base is entirely zoned Industrial, which does not match with the
approved redevelopment plan.

Since the closure of the base in 2011, the township has been proactive with the future redevelopment by expanding the sewer treatment plant, planning for public water, planning and implementing traffic improvements, etc., and the next logical step is to be proactive with zoning, Walker said.