A “big step” was apparently made with regards to the stormwater/infrastructure flooding issue currently existing on Hansel Drive that backs up to the still vacant Armstrong Middle School property in Bensalem Township.
Bensalem officials said that work on a retaining wall will commence on October 26. which in theory will mitigate flooding and the property owner is taking on all the costs involved.
Hansell Drive families have been tormented by flooding since at least the once in a lifetime flooding that overwhelmed Lower Bucks County in 2021
The property is owned by Zee Bridge Capital LLC since November 2024 and since taking over the site there has been little to any movement on improvements to the location.
Officials noted at last weeks Council meeting new for sale signs along the property were observed.
Hansell Drive families, and Bensalem officials have tried to take a patient wait and see approach, not wanting to potentially chase property developer off an important project.
The township, as much as it legally can, has tried to gently approach Zee Bridge Capital on behalf of its residents to address the flooding issues. Council, in recent months has pushed administration officials for answers, possible resolutions and whether or not any legal action could be taken.
Solicitor Joseph Pizzo said potential remedies available to the townshipare limited in scope and heft.
The township, he said, may have or may not various enforcement rights, there is, and always has been, the right of the residential property owners to act. Bensalem’s stormwater ordinance, Chapter 196, gives the township two tools of its own. It can fine a violator up to $1,000 per violation, per day, and go to court to enforce compliance.
The township can order an owner to fix a stormwater hazard and, if the owner doesn’t, rectify the issue, it charge the owner for the work.
The work on the property was supposed to start in September, officials said, the reasoning for delay was not immediately made clear.
Bensalem Township Engineer Nichole Khan said a spokesperson for the Armstrong property told her by October 26th, they will be at the site to start constructing the wall and moving earth.
Khan said there is 4.5 feet of vertical room at the bottom of the culvert before the water reaches backyards. A 20-foot easement now sits in residents’ yards. She has asked the owner to shift it onto the Armstrong side of the line. “I want to see this be a forever problem that’s solved,” she said.
Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo expressed his frustration with the delays on the work getting done.
“I’ve lost my patience. It’s a month now that we told these folks that we were going to be on the property.”
Hansell Drive resident Natasha Bica, who is in her own way an unofficial spokesperson for residents living in the section was grateful to see and hear movement is happening with addressing the infrastructure issues from the municipal and private side being addresses.
“I really appreciate you guys pushing for this…and this actually being an agenda item because Hansell Drive always seems to be falling on the back-burner.”
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