The Falls Township Zoning Hearing Board has granted several variances to allow the transformation of the Levittown Lanes site into a small apartment complex.
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The project, proposed by longtime owners Al and Mary Episcopo, looks to repurpose the property following a devastating fire in 2022.
The approved variances pave the way for a three-story, 24-unit apartment building on the .8-acre site at New Falls Road and Orchard Drive. The plan also includes 14 parking spots behind the building and 56 spaces across Orchard Drive on a .6-acre lot owned by the Episcopos.
The plan still needs to move through land development and come up for a vote before the Falls Township Board of Supervisors.
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The project has faced some opposition from the community. A petition to halt the development has amassed more than 380 signatures.
At Tuesday evening’s nearly six-hour-long Falls Township Zoning Hearing Board meeting, residents spoke on concerns about increased traffic, impacts on property values, and the size of the proposed building. Critics argued that the introduction of 24 families and 50 cars is inappropriate for the site, fearing it will exacerbate existing issues in the overcrowded school district and diminish the character of the neighborhood.
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Despite these concerns, the Episcopos and their representatives said that the apartment complex represents a less impactful use of the land compared to the previous bowling alley, restaurant and bar, which operated late into the night.
Mike Meginniss, the attorney representing the Episcopos, highlighted the project’s benefits, including improved stormwater management and a reduction in impervious surface area by adding more green space.
Meginniss said traffic estimates have shown less trips than the previous use at the site.
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Al Episcopo, who has owned the property since 1962, emphasized the development’s potential to serve the community positively.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Michael Episcopo, the son of Al and Mary Episcopo, explained that due to financial realities, a small local bowling alley cannot be developed without commercial loans, which are only secured by mega bowling companies. He said he wished the fire didn’t happen and he could be still working at the bowling alley.
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“I want to make something for my parents that have done so much for my sister and I,” Michael Episcopo said. “We’re trying to make good for a terrible situation. We’re trying to beautify the neighborhood. They know my father and they know what type of man he is.”
The Episcopos said they were looking to build the apartment building and keep it in the family.
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The site has been vacant since an accidental fire destroyed the popular bowling alley and bar in March 2022.
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