A handful of residents came out to address concerns over flooding that’s happened in Bensalem at the township meeting on July 13.
This comes after a storm caused significant flooding in Bensalem on July 6.
One area prone to flooding that was heavily discussed was Hensell Drive, a street that’s located behind the old Armstrong Middle School property.
Natasha was one of the residents who lives on that street that asked if the township can do anything about the flooding that’s been happening on the street, due in part to the lack of safeguards in place.
“Last Monday’s storm was the nail in the coffin for me and my neighbors.” She stated to Council. “It’s not just our street, all of Bensalem has problems and you know where those problems are.”
Natasha stated that her street, which is connected to Hulmeville and Street Roads needs more drains on the streets to catch some of the water that rushes down their street, which then goes towards their driveway and floods their homes.
She also called for answers to the sewage issues that have arisen from having sewage pipes running from the property where Armstrong middle school used to be and into Hansell Dr.
Bensalem Township Council President Edward Tokmajian Jr said he and the members are aware of the issues on Hansell at the old Armstrong property is a big issue.
Credit: Submitted
“We did reach out to the owner (of the Armstrong property) directly as far as to go in there and try to help.”
According to county property records, Zee Bridge Capital LLC has owned the property since November 2024.
Tokmajian stated that he’s looking to come up with a short term fix to limit how much flooding happens on Hansell Dr, and a long term fix to make sure flooding is completely under control in that area.
The lack of development and state of the Armstrong property has been a massive headache for those on Hansell, to the point where Councilman Joseph Wenzel Jr. brought up the idea of the owners of homes on that street going after the owner of the Armstrong property.
Solicitor Joseph Pizzo echoed that sentiment,
“Certainly if the private property owner causes harm to a neighboring property owner, there is the potential there for civil action,” he said.
Residents representing Hansell Street said that while they have contacted attorney’s to look into the matter, they don’t have the money because they’ve spend it on fixing up their homes after they are damaged by the flooding.
“The reason why we don’t have it is because we spend so much money on fixing the house. Last month I spend $1,000 putting a new pond so I don’t get water inside my house and I still got water!”
Another issue is that the residents of the street don’t have any contact information on the owner of the Armstrong property, but Council does.
“You dismantle the Armstrong property and their not maintaining it.” Collen, a resident on Hansell Dr stated to council. “We can’t keep calling the property owner. You guys need to have it maintained and built!”
Another resident on Hensell Dr. called out the township for the lack of action they’ve taken to solve the flooding issue, especially after a harsh flood that happened to the township back in 2020.
“Every time it rains I’m worried, I’m sick, because the only drain is right outside my house. If I’m not outside with a rake getting all the stuff out of the drain, then it’s all coming down my driveway.”
Credit: Lower Bucks Hospital
Other residents in flood prone areas’ in Bensalem voiced their concern and frustration with the township for lack of action and solutions to prevent the flood every time a bad rain storm hits, with one of the most common complaints being the fact the storm drains in the neighborhoods simply can’t handle all the water that’s coming down from the streets and into the neighborhoods.
Wenzel Jr. stated at the meeting that the township is trying to work with PennDOT in order to alleviate the flooding issues in the township.
“When the flooding happened on Station Ave we reached out to the state.” Wenzel Jr. said. “Their response wasn’t the most exciting, it was ‘Oh wow’. That was the state’s response.”
Wenzel Jr. stated that the best thing residents could do is take photos of the floods and other road issues and send them over to the Penndot’s site.
Council Member Edward Kisselback sympathized with those dealing with the flooding issues and stated that the township has tried their best to work with PennDOT, but attempts to do so aren’t always successful.
“As you being aggravated with us, I certainly understand, you can imagine our problems we have just trying to work with PennDOT because you multiply that and we think we have something happening and next thing you know they pull the rug out from us.”
Before the conclusion of the meeting, Tokmajian Jr. assured residents that council will be doing everything they can to get ahead of the flooding issues across Bensalem. Council planned to meet with PennDOT in regards to not just issues in neighborhoods, but those on Station Avenue and other state owned roads some time in August.
“Particularly with the issues about the drains being blocked. We are making headway into trying to cooperatively speak to our state elected leaders, as well as PennDOT, to get ahead of and really try to address some of the flooding issues that we see across this township,” he said.
Editor’s Note: Publisher Jeff Bohen contributed to this story
Credit: Brian Keith
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