Residents of the Waterside and Echo Beach developments in Bensalem are fiercely opposing a proposed warehouse and distribution center by Johnson Development Associates Inc. at 2600 State Road.
According to the preliminary plan, a single-story warehouse of about 252,652 square feet would be constructed at the site, in addition to 176 car parking spaces, 35 trailer spaces and 48 loading docks.
Bensalem Township Council members agreed to table a vote on the project until its Feb. 28 meeting. In the meantime, those living nearby are fighting to make the council see the negative impacts of this project, which JoAnn Stewart, vice president of Waterside and Echo Beach, stated isn’t in line with the core principles of the township’s River Renaissance initiative to improve the waterfront.
During the meeting, Stewart outlined the principles, including that the region should retain its visual character derived from the natural infrastructure; the development should be pedestrian-oriented; and the buildings should contribute to the physical definition of the community.
“Development of this proposed warehouse distribution facility does not align with these core principles. The homeowners of Waterside literally bought into the planned renaissance of the waterfront. We purchased our homes with the understanding that the revitalization plan, while it takes some time, was an active vision along the waterfront, not a passing pipe dream,” she said.
Stewart added that residents are already seeing increased truck traffic and other problems because of the Amazon distribution center, located at 3750 State Road.
“Adding another warehouse in a proposed revitalization area is unacceptable,” she said. “We already have infrastructure and flooding issues along State Road. The addition of another warehouse distribution center will add impervious surface and exacerbate those issues.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
