Abington Township’s Board of Commissioners will discuss a waiver of Land Development request submitted by SPS Technologies during its regular meeting on Thursday, April 30 at 7:00pm at 1176 Old York Road.

After a series of meetings, township officials voted to move the rebuilding project forward with conditions. Ross Abel of the Jenkintown + Abington Neighbors Association (JANA) told Glenside Local that advocates from Abington, Jenkintown, and Cheltenham have been working to green the SPS redevelopment along Tookany Creek. 

“We’ve been pushing for the rear of the site along Tookany Creek to be treated as more than leftover industrial edge,” Abel said. “We’re working on creating a stronger native creek buffer, better stormwater treatment, preserving usable space along the creek for future restoration and possible public access, and coordination with the Township on separated bike access along Highland Avenue.”

Abel noted that numerous local groups have sent letters of support for JANA’s concepts, and that the Abington Planning Commission recently recommended approval with conditions. Those conditions included language that SPS should not foreclose future opportunities such as a greenway or access easement along the Tookany Creek boundary.

“For tomorrow, the key issue is making sure the Abington Board puts enough teeth into those conditions so the site is not rebuilt in a way that permanently blocks future restoration, access, and better connectivity,” Abel said.

The meeting’s agenda for Thursday can be found here. You can read more about JANA’s efforts here and in their April 10 letter to Abington Township below:

SPS is hoping to begin production at the new facility by sometime in 2028. On January 22, SPS Technologies submitted site plans below to the township. The township’s Planning Commission reviewed SPS Technologies’ land development plans during their March 24 meeting.

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.

Renderings: JANA