SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Redevelopment of the historic King George Inn property is facing more roadblocks.
Bud Newton of Newton Engineering, representing property owner Hotel Hamilton LLC, asked the South Whitehall Board of Commissioners for a six-month extension of approval at their meeting Wednesday.
- Plans for redeveloping the King George Inn property are moving forward, but have faced more issues
- Township commissioners granted another six-month extension of approval for the plans
- In other business, commissioners adopted revisions to the appointment policy for citizen boards after a heated interview
“I think we were hoping that we wouldn't have to be here tonight,” Newton said.
Newton said Hotel Hamilton LLC still has some minor items to address, such as getting highway occupancy permits and completing additional paperwork the township requested.
“I can’t promise you that we're gonna have it done this month or next month, but it’s coming."Bud Newton, Newton Engineering
“I can’t promise you that we're gonna have it done this month or next month, but it’s coming,” Newton said.
Township solicitor Joseph Zator recommended the board grant the extension because there have been some “unusual aspects of this project” over the past several years.
Township Engineer Anthony Tallarida said the plan is “essentially done” from an engineering perspective.
“There are a few minor — I'll call them housekeeping — items that need to be addressed,” Tallarida said.
The board voted unanimously to grant Hotel Hamilton LLC the extension to approval, letting the developer take more time to resolve the issues.
Commissioners gave Hotel Hamilton LLC final approval for the redevelopment plans in 2020. The board has since granted the developer multiple extensions, including a six-month extension in September.
King George Inn
Commissioner Monica Hodges asked about what the developer would do to protect King George Inn, which was built in 1757.
“I just wanted to ask you or tell you I have high hopes that you’ll do some protective measures as you’re doing construction on that site to make sure that that building is structurally protected,” Hodges said.
Newton said Hotel Hamilton LLC owner Atul Patel has done repair and restoration work to the building after it was damaged by Hurricane Sandy and has gotten rid of some non-historic aspects of the building.
“He has done a lot of work to preserve its existing condition and return it more back to its historic roots,” Newton said.
Newton previously said Patel plans to keep the stone walls, which are considered historic, but will renovate the inside of the building.
The stone structure dates to the 1700s but has been renovated over the years as it was used for various businesses. A restaurant that was at the inn closed in 2012.
Newton said in a previous interview that the building does not have tenants yet, so he is not sure what it will be used for.
He said Hotel Hamilton LLC typically works with hotels, but he is not sure any part of the parcel would be turned into a hotel because the industry is not doing well right now.
Other business
The board also voted to adopt revisions to the appointment policy for citizen boards, which include the Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board and the Parks and Recreation Board.
The revisions removed language from the policy that required the board to seek input or recommendations from the chair of the citizen board when interviewing candidates.
Commissioner Jacob Roth suggested the changes at the last board meeting, citing an interview for a Zoning Hearing Board alternate position.
Roth previously said that Zoning Hearing Board Chairman Don Klein “took the opportunity to lambaste” the candidate during the interview, and the candidate then withdrew his application.
Township Manager Tom Petrucci said there will be a hearing and a vote on whether to adopt the township’s new comprehensive plan at the next commissioners meeting on March 15.
The plan, which has been in development for nearly four years, will serve as a guideline for where future efforts and developments should go in the township and what they should be like.
Residents will be able to comment on whether the plan should be adopted before the board votes.
