Horsham Township to Apply for Parks, Firehouse, Roads at Air Base

Horsham Township Council made its interest in 130 acres of 892 available acres at the official Wednesday by voting to submit for park space, a firehouse and roads. 

Councilman William Whiteside, who serves on the Horsham Land Reuse Authority - the entity that will ultimately decide the fate of the air base - excused himself from the meeting before the discussion began. Councilwoman Deborah Tustin was absent. 

With its vote, council authorized Township Manager Bill Walker to submit three notices of interest to the HLRA by the March 22 deadline. Horsham is interested in six park/open space parcels totaling 128 acres; the base's 1.83-acre firehouse; and four roads bordering the 1,100-acre air base - Maple Avenue, Norristown Road, Precision Drive and Privet Road.

Government agencies, nonprofit groups or other entities able to provide a "public benefit conveyance" through hospitals/health centers; educational facilities; housing for homeless; parks/recreation and the like are eligible to apply for the air base land for free, or dramatically reduced rates. 

Walker, who made the presentation to council Wednesday, said the base's firehouse, which houses four bays and 20 bunk beds, could come in handy for public works crews needing rest between long hours plowing snow. 

"They sleep in their trucks," Walker said. "They come back and sleep in a chair in the lunchroom."

Another possibility would be to lease the building to Horsham Fire Co. should an additional firehouse be needed in the future. Still another option is to share the building with the county's Department of Public Safety for storage of HazMat trucks.

For travelers driving through Horsham, the township's most important request is perhaps for ownership of four roads surrounding the base. If ownership, or "ultimate right-of-way" is granted, Walker said the township could allow the roads to continue through what is now the air base property.

"Our problem in town is not necessarily going east and west," Walker said. "The problem is going north and south. There’s no way through the base."

By far Horsham's largest land request will be for parks and open space. Not including the potential additions from the air base, Horsham already has 814 acres in dozens of recreation sites and open space parcels scattered throughout the township. If all of the park space is granted, that amount would increase to roughly 942 acres. 

Here's a closer look at the park/open space tracts the township intends to apply for:

• An 8.1-acre parcel between Girard and Columbia avenues could be used for walking trails and basketball courts
• Two connecting, roughly 6-acre tracts across from Route 611 could be used for what Walker dubbed "new age thinking" with regard to stormwater management, providing help for the flood-prone Horsham Terrace
• The base's existing 9.2-acre ball field, concession stands, bleachers, tennis courts, street hockey and hockey rink would add some recreational opportunities for residents in the eastern part of town
• A 93.6-acre tract, situated north of the runway, adjacent to Keith Valley Road, would connect to a 102-acre township-owned parcel of preserved land.
• A 4.66-acre plot near the sewage treatment plant would serve as "environmental protection" for Park Creek, according to Walker and would square off 14 acres of township-owned open space. 

Besides Horsham Township, the has expressed interest in 60 acres of land for a future school and the has said it intends to apply for land to expand its existing museum on Route 611. 

Representatives from the  said they would like to keep the airport in use, although formal plans have not been drafted, or even discussed according to the council's Executive Director Robert Rockmaker.  

"There's been no commitment," Rockmaker said earlier this week. "We have to believe there will be at least one group that will submit a (notice of interest)."

During Wednesday's council meeting, Horsham resident Peter Steiert said he did not want to see the air base become "Philly International #2."

"I was wondering why other areas have control over Horsham," Steiert said. "We're paying taxes in our township." 

Council President Mark McCouch read a statement noting council's opposition to continued use of the runway once the military ceases its use at month's end. 

Like Steiert and the residents who have contacted council recently to express opposition to the base being used as an airport, McCouch said council has voiced similar sentiments for the last five years. 

"We feel confident that continued use of the airstrip is not the best use," McCouch said, adding that council would work to ensure the "quality of life" for Horsham residents.

McCouch encouraged Steiert and anyone else with interests in the base's future, to attend , the next one of which is set for March 16 at 3 p.m. 

"By law, we really have to listen to what everyone has to say," McCouch said, stressing that the public should let its voices be heard. "If (residents) can’t come to a meeting send us a letter or an e-mail."