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Politics & Government

Hatboro Joins Anti-Airport Cause

Council passes resolution contesting runway use at Willow Grove air base.

The Hatboro Borough Council this week joined several other local entities that have spoken out against the continued use of the runway at .

The council voted 4-2 Monday to approve a resolution opposing plans that could allow for continued use of the air base's 8,000-foot runway. Councilman John Zygmont was not present.

Hatboro Borough Council has now joined the governments of , Warminster and Montgomery townships, along with the , in opposing plans submitted by the and . 

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The issue drew no public comment at the meeting.

Council president Marianne Reymer and Councilman Bill Tompkins voted against the resolution.

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At its previous meeting, the council directed solicitor Michael Savona to draft language for the statement, but on Monday Tomkins expressed reservations with the measure, calling it an “incomplete resolution.”

Tomkins urged his colleagues to adopt language that clarified that the council was opposed to future “private or commercial” airport use, noting that he was under the impression that the council wouldn’t oppose potential use by a governmental entity.  

That suggestion was rejected by his colleagues, however, who agreed that the resolution was meant to convey opposition to any and all continued use of the airport runway.

The Horsham Land Reuse Authority will ultimately decide how the 892-acre parcel will be developed. The HLRA is expected to render a decision on the - including two for the airport - at its July 27 meeting, which will be held at , 1025 Horsham Road at 7 p.m. From there, the HLRA's consultant will present three potential reuse plans during the HLRA's Aug. 17 meeting at 3 p.m. at the Horsham municipal building, which is located across the parking lot within the municipal complex. 

The HLRA is expected to adopt a final redevelopment plan by November, which would need to be forwarded to the Department of Defense for a final ok. 

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