First Posted: 2/29/2012
GLENBURN TWP. – Mark Young of Border Realty was present at the Glenburn Twp. board of supervisors meeting Feb. 21 to again ask for permission from zoning and sewer authorities to move forward with a proposed hotel project along routes 6&11 near Trovato’s Meat Market.
Young explained that the planning commission was on board to approve zoning, but still needed permission from the Abington Joint Sewer Authority in regard to installing sewer lines for the hotel. Solicitor Malcolm MacGregor explained that he would be meeting with Mike Donahue from the Joint Sewer Authority in the near future to discuss the issue. Young persisted that the matter needed to be resolved as soon as possible, explaining that Hilton, the company that would be placing the hotel, would not wait.
Tom Wicks from the planning commission suggested to Young that zoning for the property be handled the same way it was handled for People’s National Bank. Wicks said that the bank is classified as a C1 property with a use variance. The use variance only allows the bank to operate as a bank. MacGregor agreed that this action would speed up the approval process, but would be problematic should there be a wish to convert the hotel into another type of facility. Wicks also explained that the fire department needed to be contacted about height restrictions for a commercial property. He said that these issues would likely be resolved and ready for discussion at the March planning commission meeting.
A township resident at the meeting presented concerns about the proposed property, such as a possible increase in taxes and influx of “transients.” Supervisor Bill Wicks explained that the project would be a “private enterprise” and that the township would not be investing any money in the hotel. He also explained that the cost to stay in the proposed property (approximately $100 per night) would help draw individuals who would not cause trouble. Young reaffirmed this by saying that a study conducted showed that only 30 percent of the property would be utilized by gas drillers. The rest of the hotel would be occupied by travelers wishing for “the comforts of home.”
Wicks explained that Glenburn and Dalton are on track to be the next townships to expand and develop as more people move into the Abingtons. However, he added that the zoning of Glenburn is in place to protect residents, as well as future businesses. In response to more traffic flow, it was explained that PennDOT would be in charge of conducting a traffic study, not the township.
Young also confirmed at the meeting that the proposed property would be a Hilton Home2 Suites. More detailed information on this type of property can be found at http://home2suites1.hilton.com/en_US/ht/index.do.