Former U.S. Navy Base Rezoning Approved In Horsham

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — Township Manager Bill Walker put the pictures before the residents attending a public hearing on the rezoning of the former U.S. Navy Base on Route 611 and Horsham Road.

If the zoning wasn't changed from Industrial, Route 611 might resemble what it looks like in New Jersey over the Commodore Barry Bridge: "A sea of warehouse centers."

Walker told the crowd of over 30 residents at the meeting earlier this month that the New Jersey area has lots of warehouse distribution centers and tractor-trailers.

"That is what is allowed," Walker said. "That is what we don't want."

The Horsham Township Council took that step to avoid those warehouse centers by unanimously adopting an ordinance to rezone the base.

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.

Walker said the township wanted to be proactive with zoning.

"We want to protect our investment," Walker said. "We're not sure what is happening and what will happen. We don't know what's coming around the corner.. "We're negotiating with the Navy. There are a lot of things going on in Washington. You just don't know."

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.

The approval allows for R1 and R2 zoning for woodlands, parks, single-family homes, schools, retail, restaurants, and professional office buildings similar to the Pennsylvania Lifestyle Campus on the other side of town.

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.

Walker outlined the timeline for the base:

• 2005 — The base was listed for closure.
• 2011 — The base closed.
• 2012 — The base plan was finalized
• 2014 — PFAS contamination was detected
• 2024 — An agreement of sale reached with the Navy

Click here to see the redevelopment plan