Hatboro Property Owner Seeks Buyout—Again

Plans to buyout and demolish an often flooded Hatboro commercial property is again back on the table.

During Monday night's Hatboro Borough Council meeting, the governing body approved the submission of a government buyout application for 332 S. York Road, the site where Manja Pizza and several auto repair shops are situated. It is also where Quig's Pizza had been located until and required that the building be gutted.

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. Kiriakidi told Patch previously that a buyout is one of several options under consideration. Another possibility that Kiriakidi said he applied for is to obtain "money to help make it water-proof."

At that time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the property was "considered a low priority" because it's commercial, Borough Manager Fred Zollers told Patch on Monday.

Recently, he said the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency reached out to see if the property owners would again be interested in seeking a possible buyout. Zollers said the owners have agreed to again try for a buyout, which, if received, would result in "the whole property" being demolished and used permanently as open space.

The property owners could net "over $2 million" if the buyout is approved, Zollers said. An application must be submitted by March 6, he said. 

Also at play are Horizon's plans to demolish all but Manja to make way for 16 two-story residential units on the 1.76-acre lot. The property owner is set to go before the planning commission on March 5, the borough council on March 11 and the zoning hearing board on March 13, according to borough councilman Bill Tompkins.

Zollers said it is permissible for both applications to advance simultaneously. 

"One doesn't affect the other," Zollers said, adding that FEMA and PEMA buyouts are "totally voluntary" and the owner could withdraw the application should the proposed residences move forward.