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Norristown council authorizes advertisement for mixed‑use overlay at State Hospital site
Summary
Council voted to advertise a zoning text amendment that would create a mixed‑use overlay for the 68‑acre Norristown State Hospital property; developer outlined plans for homes, apartments, retail and phased build‑out and staff said public hearings and later conditional‑use and master‑plan reviews will follow.
Norristown Municipal Council voted Tuesday to advertise a proposed zoning text amendment that would create a mixed‑use overlay district for the 68 acres of the former Norristown State Hospital, moving the project to the county planning commission and setting a public hearing date.
The amendment, presented by municipal planning staff member Ms. Messonnier, would replace the parcel’s current institutional zoning with language permitting a range of residential types and supporting commercial uses. “It’s basically going to include permitted uses, which range anywhere from residential … mid‑rise apartment houses, mixed‑use apartments and retail, residential mixed uses, townhomes, stacked townhomes, twin duplexes, garden style apartments,” Ms. Messonnier told council. She said the ordinance would also add dimensional criteria, general development regulations and an application review process.
Developer representatives told council the overlay is tailored to a redevelopment plan they presented to the borough. The developer representative said the roughly 68‑acre plan would reserve about 2 acres for the municipality and otherwise include a mix of for‑sale townhomes (roughly 450), apartments (about 250), unspecified commercial and retail space, restaurants and a potential grocery store. “We are proposing … about 450 townhomes, about 250 apartments … we’re working to secure grocery store,” the developer representative said. He added the ordinance contains provisions to prevent “cherry picking” by requiring a new phase to begin within 18 months of starting a phase and said the developer will return for conditional‑use approval and a master plan if the zoning text change is approved and advertised.
Planning staff and the solicitor have been working with the developer and the professional planner, David Bartlett, on the text, Messonnier said. Council approved a motion to advertise the ordinance so a public hearing can be scheduled; council members then will consider conditional‑use and master‑plan reviews and any phased proposals the developer files.
Why it matters: the zoning change would allow housing types and commercial uses not now permitted by the site’s institutional zoning, and it begins a multi‑step public process. The council’s advertisement does not approve a master plan, project phasing or any specific building permits; the developer must return for conditional‑use, master‑plan and subsequent approvals.
Council president Rebecca Smith and other council members asked no substantive questions during the presentation beyond scheduling; planning staff said the developer will appear again for hearings and approvals. The planning department recommended advertising the ordinance so a public hearing can be held, and council voted to do so.
Next steps: after advertising, the borough will hold a public hearing; the developer must later file for conditional‑use approval and a master plan, and each phase would require review and likely additional public hearings and council votes.
