New Zoning in the Office Park

On May 14, 2019 the Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners adopted the new zoning ordinance that governs the Fort Washington Office Park.  Multifamily residential and mixed-use real estate are now permitted, as a “conditional use” in the new Greater Fort Washington (GFW) District. The Commissioners changed the height restrictions for three parcels of land in the new district on August 13, 2019.

This mixed-use zoning code applies the latest Smart Growth planning principles, embracing the Live – Work – Play approach to redefining today’s suburban office parks. Design standards for new development were also adopted, within the Township’s subdivision and land development ordinance.

Greater Fort Washington District Zoning Ordinances

FEMA approves revised Floodplain Maps for Fort Washington Office Park

On May 3, 2018, FEMA notified Upper Dublin Township that a new floodplain map was approved for the properties in the vicinity of the Flood Control Projects along Rapp Run and Pine Run. These new floodplain maps affect most of the properties within the Fort Washington Office Park, including many properties with reduced floodplain burdens. A series of links below provides further information on the impacts of the properties.

• Copy of the letter from FEMA approving the revised floodplain line
• Section of revised floodplain near Turnpike
• Section of revised floodplain between Camp Hill and Susquehanna
• Section of revised floodplain above Susquehanna

Office Park Overview

The Fort Washington Office Park is the primary center of business and industry in Upper Dublin Township. This 536 acre, multi-use modern business park is strategically located at the crossroads of the PA Turnpike and PA Route 309, in the heart of suburban eastern Montgomery County and only fourteen miles from Center City Philadelphia. This regional commerce center consists of 123 properties with 66 buildings, containing roughly 6 million square feet of commercial space.  This includes Class A office facilities, back-office operations, distribution and manufacturing, hotel, restaurant and recreation uses.

The Fort Washington Office Park offers a number of advantages and assets to businesses that locate here:

• Roadway access: Immediate access to interstate and regional roadways
• Public transit: Washington SEPTA regional rail station and commuter link buses serve the office park
• Workforce: local labor pool provides employers with a broad range of skills and education
• Housing: excellent options for executives, management and staff employees in beautiful suburban communities within minutes from the office park
• Education: award-winning public schools and variety of private schools - pre-K through university
• Recreation: a broad selection fitness facilities athletic fields and trails in and near the park
• Dining: various business lunch and dinner options and new restaurants in development.
• Hotels and meeting space: nearby properties recently renovated and more in development
• Business-friendly environment – supportive municipal and county governments

Office Park Brochure

Download this ten page informative brochure:
Fort Washington Office Park Brochure

Modernization Plans

A large-scale improvement program is now underway to implement a sustainable revitalization plan of the office park. Major new public and private investment in the park began with Upper Dublin Township’s completion of two large flood retarding structures in December 2013. The Pine Run and Rapp Run dry dams, upstream from the office park, are effectively reducing the historically-persistent flooding.  Additional infrastructure improvements are now moving forward including roadway and bridge reconstruction, a new trail system, further storm water management projects and new building design standards. Also in the planning stages is additional Turnpike access including a quick exit (zip) ramp from the PA 309/Fort Washington Turnpike exit directly into the center of the office park and the completion of the Virginia Drive Turnpike Slip Ramp to provide eastbound on/off access.

Press Release - Zip Ramp and Road Diet - Grants Awarded

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan

This Township project seeks to develop programs and policies that result in new transit alternatives for commuters to the Fort Washington Office Park - to reduce roadway congestion, improve air quality, and enhance the park’s competitiveness as a business location. Ultimately these programs will help businesses to attract and retain employees, and enhance quality of life.

Press Release - TDM - Grant
TDM Plan Page

• Report-FWOP-Sustainable Revitalization Plan (3.7 MiB)
• Report-FWOP-Technical Memo 1: Sending Area (0.2 MiB)
• Report-FWOP-Technical Memo 2: Receiving Area (1.0 MiB)
• Report-FWOP-Technical Memo 4: Mechanism for the Transfer of Development Rights (0.6 MiB)

H2O Grant & Flood Retarding Structures

Economic evaluation procedures, assumptions, and methodologies for the flood retarding structures in Upper Dublin Township:

Report-Flood Retarding Structures Benefit Cost Ratio - June 2010 (192.8 KiB)

A resolution of the Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners authorized the request of an H2O PA Grant under Act 63 of 2008 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to be used for the construction of two dry-impound flood mitigation structures:

Resolution-10-2055-H2O Grant (136.6 KiB)

*Notice-Upper Dublin Receives 11.83 Million H2O Grant for Flood Retarding Structures (11.1 KiB)