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Whitemarsh board approves waiver for Brooke Glen flood-mitigation project
Summary
The Whitemarsh Board of Supervisors voted to approve Resolution #2026-09 granting a land-development waiver for Universal Health Services’ Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital to install floodproofing—walls, facades and removable barriers—designed to protect the building above the 500-year floodplain following a FEMA map revision.
The Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors on June 11 approved Resolution #2026-09, granting a land-development waiver to Universal Health Services for floodproofing work at Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital, 7170 Lafayette Avenue in Fort Washington.
Engineer James Barvis told the Board the project combines a freestanding flood wall, a brick-faced waterproof facade tied to the building and removable temporary flood barriers around the parking/courtyard to prevent water intrusion. He said the work follows a recent FEMA LOMAR (map revision) and that the completed system "would actually provide protection above the 500-year" flood line where the hospital has seen past flood damage.
The presentation explained that most visible wall sections will be faced in brick to match the building and that the top of the flood wall will be at the bottom of the building windows so the appearance remains architectural rather than plain concrete. Barvis described site-specific details including two flood-proof gates to maintain ingress/egress and drainage provisions so courtyard areas remain dry. The design team emphasized the intent to protect lower-floor patient rooms that have flooded previously.
Township staff and the engineer addressed board questions about landscaping and wall height; Barvis said visible areas will have a brick façade and the wall height will remain below window sills in most areas, with a maximum local elevation of up to 6 feet where required by code. Charlie Guttenplan and the applicant explained the Planning Commission recommended approval in December 2024 and that variances were later secured for floodplain and riparian-corridor issues before returning to the Board for this final approval step.
The Board voted to adopt Resolution #2026-09. The action clears the local land-development waiver step; additional permits and construction scheduling were not specified during the meeting.
Next steps: staff and the applicant will proceed with the remaining approvals and permitting required for construction.
