Politics & Government

Banking on New Entryway to Horsham

Beneficial Bank hopes to convert a former Texaco gas station to a new lending facility.

“Major” traffic and aesthetic improvements are planned in conjunction with the construction of an 1,800-square-foot Beneficial Bank at the intersection of Welsh Road and Limekiln Pike in Horsham. 

“The plan really cleans up this lot,” Township Manager Bill Walker said. “It’s an entranceway into Horsham Township.”

As such, drivers entering the township via neighboring Upper Dublin, will know exactly where they are as Beneficial Bank agreed to include a “Welcome to Horsham” sign on the property. Landscaping with additional tree plantings is envisioned, along with better stormwater management controls. 

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The Horsham Township Council reviewed the plans and considered granting preliminary and final land development approval during last week’s meeting. However, no action was taken. Instead, the governing body intends to vote at its June 13 meeting.

At issue is the amount the applicant owes Horsham in traffic impact fees.  Horsham officials arrived at $166,000 based on traffic studies conducted years ago when Commerce Bank had previously planned to construct a branch at the same site.

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Beneficial Bank’s traffic engineer told the council that an analysis is necessary to determine how the study arrived at what he felt was an inflated total number of trips to and from the proposed bank.

Horsham officials said the yet-to-be-set traffic fee would likely be “somewhere in between” the $166,000 that Horsham requested and an amount that Beneficial Bank suggests.

In terms of traffic and intersection upgrades, Walker said a driveway is planned for the adjacent CVS, which is located in a strip mall with an Italian restaurant and several other businesses. The existing traffic signal would be upgraded with LED lights, a traffic control box for emergency responders and generator capability in the event of power outages. 

Designated turn lanes are planned for Welsh Road and Limekiln Pike, he said.

Following the council’s impending approval of the plan, Beneficial Bank Senior Vice President Joseph F. Coyle said he hopes to “start as quickly as possible.”

“We would love to actually be under roof by the end of this year,” Coyle said. 


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