Planning commission backs conditional use and waivers for Perkasie Regional Authority Well #7 treatment building

The East Rockhill Township Planning Commission on June 12, 2025 recommended conditional use approval and multiple waivers for the Perkasie Regional Authority’s proposed replacement well house and treatment building at Well #7 on Three Mile Run Road, forwarding recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.

Perkasie Regional Authority proposed a new 1,400‑square‑foot building to house water‑treatment equipment on a 101.1‑acre site in the Residential Protection zoning district. Because Use G1 (utilities) is allowed only by conditional use in that district, the project requires conditional use approval. Representatives from Pennoni Associates (Sean Torpey, P.E.; Jakob Reilly) and PRA Board Chair David Watt attended the meeting.

Staff asked the applicant to provide additional operational details including frequency of maintenance visits, generator operation, and any other neighborhood impacts to inform the Board's conditional use review. The conditional use hearing before the Board of Supervisors was scheduled for June 24, 2025.

Key technical and regulatory points raised by staff included: • Land development waiver: the applicant requested a waiver from formal land development submission (SLDO Section 22‑103.2); staff noted that any waiver recommendation should be conditioned on submittal of a Stormwater Management Permit application and verification of stormwater requirements. • Sanitary sewer: a sanitary connection is required; staff asked that plan details and capacity approvals be resolved and suggested relocating the sewer lateral outside the cartway of Three Mile Run Road. Sewage planning module approval or an exemption from PADEP will be required. • Hydrology and floodplain: Three Mile Run crosses the property but mapped stream and FEMA 100‑year floodplain shown on the plan are not impacted by the proposed building; staff requested riparian buffer identification on the plan. • Erosion control and conservation district verification: as earthmoving is required, Bucks County Conservation District approval of erosion and sediment controls and, when applicable, an NPDES permit from PADEP must be submitted prior to any plan recording or construction. • Lighting and parking: applicant proposed shielded motion detection lights above service doors and staff requested full‑cutoff fixture details; two off‑street parking spaces are required and the driveway appears sufficient. • Recreation and security waivers: applicant requested waiver of recreation land dedication (or payment) and waiver of financial security; the commission recommended waivers contingent on the applicant meeting other plan and technical conditions.

There was no public comment on the PRA submission during the formal presentation. The Planning Commission moved to recommend conditional use approval contingent on Wynn Associates' June 4, 2025 correspondence and an architectural rendering consistent with the recently approved Well #4. The commission also recommended waivers from formal land development, recreation fee‑in‑lieu, and financial security. All motions passed unanimously.

A separate public comment raised a tree‑cutting concern: George Hawthorne of 608 Schwenkmill Road reported that Renew Bible Church had cut down trees. Township Manager Marianne Hart Morano said the matter was investigated while activity occurred and no zoning violations were found.

The Board of Supervisors will consider the Planning Commission's conditional use recommendation and requested plan clarifications at the scheduled June 24, 2025 hearing.