Zoning board grants Perkasie Regional Authority variances for well facility at 1100 Branch Road with conditions

The East Rockhill Township Zoning Hearing Board on March 3 granted a special exception and variances that will allow the Perkasie Regional Authority to construct a small building to operate an existing well at 1100 Branch Road in the Suburban zoning district.

The decision, made on a motion by Patricia McAnally and seconded by Dan Soliday, was unanimous among the voting board members present (Arlo Eby, McAnally and Soliday). The board conditioned approval on painting the proposed building a neutral color satisfactory to the East Rockhill Township Board of Supervisors, installing a sign identifying the water treatment facility building, and strict compliance with the Township Engineer's review letter dated October 9, 2025 as well as the testimony and exhibits presented at the hearing.

Why it matters: The application asked the board to waive several zoning and floodplain protections so the utility building could be sited where needed for operations. The petition sought variances from Section 27-702.b to allow a 14-foot side yard in lieu of the required 40 feet; from Section 27-1900.h(2) and 27-1900.i(1) to permit disturbance of wetlands one acre or larger and encroachment within the 100-foot wetland margin; and from Sections 8-501.2 and 8-503.1 (including 8-503.1.A) to permit a non-residential structure, placement of fill in the designated floodplain, and a lateral fill-extension exception.

At the hearing, the applicant team ' including Jakob Reilly, P.E., and Sean Turpey, P.E. ' presented engineering testimony about the site and described proposed mitigation. Party-status requests from nearby residents Allyssa and Brad Wankewicz were accepted and the board heard the applicant's witnesses before convening an executive session for deliberations.

The board's approval incorporates the township engineer's review and the conditions listed above; the board recorded that compliance with testimony and exhibits submitted at the hearing is required. The board's Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Decision will be executed and serve as the official decision of the Zoning Hearing Board.

Next steps: The decision is conditioned on the developer meeting the engineer's requirements and the supervisors' satisfaction with building color; the record indicates the board expects the applicant to follow the imposed conditions before any permit activity proceeds.