Large Industrial Building Being Proposed After Hotel & Retail Plan Stalls

A view of the location in February 2022. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

A long vacant site in Bristol Township that has had past development proposals may have finally found a match.

Herring Properties, which owns Bristol Commerce Center, has set its sights on 3113 and 3105 Veterans Highway, which sit next to the intersection with Bath Road and Durham Road. The properties are vacant and were once home to the former O’Connor Freightliner location.

In 2022, a New Jersey developer had looked to build a hotel, fast food restaurant, automotive repair shop, and a mini-warehouse at the sites along Veterans Highway. However, officials, said those plans fell apart by this year and were dead in the water due to concerns about viability.

On Monday evening before the Bristol Township Zoning Hearing Board, Herring Properties introduced a proposal for a new industrial development at the sites, including the neighboring Stadium Bar and Grille property.

The plan is to build a 116,000-square-foot facility that could bring 50 to 60 new jobs per shift to the area, according to James Herring, owner of Herring Properties.

“We see this as a natural location for an operating business,” Herring said.

Herring said the Bristol Commerce Center is filled up and he has interest from several current tenants who want to expand.

Herring highlighted the potential for the new facility to accommodate expanding local businesses and attract new ones to the township. He noted that several tenants in the Bristol Commerce Center are outgrowing their current spaces and could potentially relocate to the new development.

The project requested a height variance allowing for an 80-foot clear height, which Herring explained is crucial for modern industrial needs, particularly in refrigeration and food storage.

The development is expected to generate minimal truck traffic, with Herring estimating “at most two tractor trailers a day” and “three to five smaller trucks” based on current tenants at similar facilities.

Jeff Skinner, the project engineer, outlined the site plan, which includes 105 employee parking spots along the front and one side of the building, with truck access primarily from the rear.

The design was created to minimize the visibility of truck traffic from Veterans Highway and Ford Road, Skinner said.

“We are also proposing a predominantly employee entrance at one location and moving another entrance down across from Rob’s Auto driveway,” Skinner explained. “We believe most of the truck traffic will be predominantly using Ford Road access.”

Zoning hearing board members expressed concerns about traffic impact, particularly at the intersection with Ford Road.

Skinner assured the board that a full traffic study would be conducted, and improvements would be made as necessary based on the recommendations.

The aesthetic design of the facility was a key point of discussion, with board members emphasizing the importance of an attractive appearance for the township’s gateway.

Herring committed to a design featuring extensive glass facades and indented corners to enhance the building’s visual appeal.

The goal, according to Herring, is to create a building that looks more like an office building than a warehouse to make it more appealing to those passing by.

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 variances for height requirements, impervious surface area, access, and site buffer.

The approval comes with conditions, including the completion of necessary environmental studies and coordination with the conservation district and PennDOT.

The proposal still needs to go through the land development process and win approval from Bristol Township Council.

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