Perhaps for Bristol Township a third time will be the charm. The long vacant thrice flirted with vacant site along Veterans Highway looks like it has found a develop match in the form of Developer Jamie Herring (Herring Properties) who is proposing to construct warehouse style facility at the location, and demolish the Stadium Bar next door.
Herring operates Herring Properties out of Princeton New Jersey and owns properties at the Bristol Commerce Center on Green Lane (Air Gas, Urban Outfitters) and is currently heading a project on Bristol Pike in Levittown.
He went before the zoning board earlier this month, who approved his variance requests. He is seeking to construct a multi-floor, 116,000-square-foot facility that could bring 50 to 60 new jobs per shift to the area, he said. Herring said his interest stems from two renters at the Green Lane location needing more space for their operations.
According to the developer, his plan is a natural fit for the township and his needs.
In August, Lower Bucks Source exclusively reported a plan approved by zoners from Developer DCD Capital LLC of Bound Brook, New Jersey which sought to turn the site into a upscale hotel, storage facility, and coffee shop. Council President Craig Bowen said the developer pulled out of the plan in late 2023. This is not the township’s first time being left at the altar; Royal Farms offered a promising partnership, Bowen said. The company’s interest and plans to develop the location started in 2016. Plans were put on hold due to disagreements with PennDOT in 2017, Bowen said.
As part of Herring’s plan, 105 employee parking spots are designated along the front and one side of the building, with truck access primarily from the rear. The design of the project was created to minimize the visibility of truck traffic from Veterans Highway and Ford Road, an engineer on the project said.
Credit: Joanne Ames Lower Bucks Source
“We are also proposing a predominantly employee entrance at one location and moving another entrance down across from Rob’s Auto driveway,” the engineer said, “We believe most of the truck traffic will be predominantly using Ford Road access.”
Zoners expressed concerns about traffic impact, particularly at the intersection with Ford Road. A traffic study is planned and improvements would be made based on the recommendations, Herring officials said.
Discussion of the look and appearance of the facility was also a point of discussion because of the centralized location. Herring said the plan in look is comparable to the Green Lane site’s appearance.
Herring said the design will feature extensive glass facades and indented corners to enhance the building’s visual appeal. To make the building more appealing to passersby, we want to design it to look more like an office building than a warehouse.
The project is expected to bring significant tax revenue to the township, with Herring confirming that no tax breaks were being sought for this development.
The zoners approved requests for height requirements, impervious surface area, access, and site buffer.
An environmental study coordination with the conservation district and PennDOT will also be needed as the proposal still needs to go through the land development process and win approval from council.
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