Credit: Whitpain Township.
At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, Whitpain Township supervisors heard a presentation from township staff to begin the consideration of the conversation of existing but vacant office space to residential use.
This topic was originally discussed in the Township’s Comprehensive Plan Update in 2024.
The presentation discussed the creation of a zoning overlay district in the southeast corner of the Township where office parks are located. A cap of no more than 1,000 new dwelling units would be permitted in the overlay district. All residential projects in the overlay district would have to meet requirements for parking, green space, buffering, outdoor recreation and other features.
According to the presentation, 970 to 1,210 residential units could be added over the next decade. All projects within the overlay district would need to meet the Township’s requirements related to parking, green area, buffering, screening and landscape, and outdoor recreation and other features
The township wanted to reiterate to its residents that no decisions have been made and the presentation was to make the board and public aware of a possible draft ordinance as part of the Comprehensive Plan Update.
“In the coming weeks and months, the Board will carefully digest and review the presentation and seek the best path forward for our community,” said Board Chair Scott Badami. “A key part of this process is obtaining input from our community, and I look forward to hearing from neighbors at future Board meetings on this topic. We want to get this important issue right and the more participation we get, the better the outcome will be.”
Additionally, Whitpain will consider if it makes sense that projects within the overlay district be subject to an attainable housing component that would mandate 10 percent of total dwelling units be set aside for those making between 80 percent to 120 percent of the household median income in Montgomery County, which would equate to $75,000 to $112,000.
Conversations around this issue will continue at future board of supervisors meetings.
