Bensalem Council last week agreed to table an apparently controversial agenda item regarding approving the final land development for the construction of eight single-family homes at 1186 Byberry Road which is currently vacant.
The motion to table a vote on the project occurred at last week’s council’s meeting on Nov.24.
Council President Joseph Knowles asked if there had been any changes to the agenda. Solicitor Joseph Pizzo responded that other Council members not present that night had requested that the planned construction decision be tabled. This has drawn the ire of residents.
According to Pizzo, the decision was made because the council did not receive a follow-up letter from the township fire marshal’s office.
“They had not received the follow up review letter from the fire marshal. They didn’t receive it because there was still things that the fire marshal was waiting for from them.”
Pizzo followed up by saying that the township got an extension of time for consideration of the application until Dec. 31 of this year.
Before last week’s Council meeting residents offered strong opinions for why the project should remain in the design only phase (see comments below):
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Bristol-based Mar Mar Homes, the developer of the project, originally planned to construct eight twin homes or 16 total units on the site which is currently a 3.5-acre lot and is located in a heavily wooded area. However, Bryce McGuigan, an attorney representing the developers said at a July planning commission meeting the developers have no intention of razing the entire property.
The plan was revised after a March 2025 court settlement, according to officials, between township officials and developers. The settlement calls for several waivers and variances for the project to be approved, such as the disruption of all woodlands and steep slopes on the site.
Homes will be priced above $900,000, officials noted in the past.
Council voted to revisit the topic at their December 8 meeting.
Editor’s Note: Publisher /Editor Jeff Bohen contributed to this report