Home Care In Warminster, PA

The National Weather Service is calling for some snow Saturday. Warminster Township officials say they're ready. Find out how below.

Dino Ciliberti, Patch Staff

|Updated Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 1:07 am ET

WARMINSTER, PA —If it snows, the township's public works department is ready to go.

Most municipalities haven't had to deal with snow for some time over the past year or so, but with this weekend's forecast, towns like Warminster Township are springing to action.

"Prep is underway," Township Manager Tom Scott told Patch Thursday.

Winter months present not only a unique challenge but also an opportunity for the township and residents to work together in the common goal of safe, timely, and efficient snow removal. The following information will be useful to township residents regarding best practices and also requirements during a snow or ice event, Scott said.

The Warminster Township Public Works Department is responsible for the safe, efficient snow removal operations that cover more than 100 miles of township roads.

Find out what's happening in Warminsterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For some storms, subcontractors are brought in to assist and clear the roads as soon as possible. The township is divided into sectors that are assigned to individual teams of plow trucks. Roads considered to be “main arteries,” emergency response routes and emergency centers, and school bus routes will be considered top priority during plowing operations.

Main arteries are roads such as Valley Road, Delmont Avenue, Norristown Road, CentennialRoad and other roads where traffic volumes are higher.

Secondary and development street plowing will continue after the priority areas are cleared. township-owned sidewalks will also be cleared by the Public Works Department.

If residents have any issues or concerns with plowing operations, they should call Warminster Township at 267-317-1310. The Public Works Department will attempt to respond to your call promptly.

Scott said residents should check the township's website for further updates.

According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, a coastal system will bring widespread precipitation to the Lower Bucks County and Philadelphia region.

Snow and some mixed precipitation will occur northwest of Interstate 95 on Saturday evening, the weather service said.

Wintry weather is likely for the area as the system moves into the region on Saturday into Sunday.Precipitation is expected to begin Saturday afternoon or early evening, and then taper off overnight. Some lingering light rain or snow is possible Sunday morning.

About 1-4 inches of snow, mixing with or changing over to rain or sleet at times is projected for northwest of the Interstate 95 corridor through the Interstate 78 corridor.

Mainly rain is expected near and southeast of Interstate 95 but may begin or end as wet snow near Interstate 95 with little to no accumulation.

Rainfall is forecast to be 0.5 -1 inches of rain across the region with the heaviest amounts possible closer to the coast. Localized flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas remains possible, the weather service said.

WARMINSTER, PA —German grocer Lidl may take another stab at opening its first supermarket in Bucks County.

The discount supermarket retailer once considered opening a store in the old Pathmark property on York Road in Warminster. A Tesla store is expected to open there shortly.

It also intended to build a store at 7843 New Falls Road in Bristol Township, after it purchased a subdivided lot from Verizon, the Bucks County Courier Times reported.

But Bristol Township officials said last August that the company has not made its plans clear.

As far as Warminster goes, Lidl is weighing developing a parcel at the corner of Street and Norristown roads, Township Engineer Craig Kennard said at a recent meeting.

"Lidl has been a part of what I believe is a sketch plan submittal," Township Manager Tom Scott said.

Kennard said that Christ Home is the property owner and that a lot of the land cannot be developed.

"I say it's 50-50 if they will develop that corner," Kennard said.

In 2016, Lidl planned to build a 29,136-square-foot grocery store and a roughly 6,000-square-foot restaurant on the old Pathmark property site on York Road. But then the grocer asked for several variance changes and plans fell through.

Lidl has more than 12,000 locations in 32 nations, including supermarkets in Lansdale, Philadelphia, and Easton. Its store in King of Prussia was closed, too, after operating for 18 months.

The company has also announced expansion plans in the eastern United States.

Lidl opened a store in Greensboro, N.C., and one in Washington, D.C., on June 28. Lidl also plans to expand its presence in the New York City market.

Last March, Lindl announced plans to set up shop in the Keystone Trade Center in a $144.65 million deal to build a warehouse on 69 acres of the former U.S. Steel property in Falls Township.

Several grocery stores are under development currently in Bucks County:

The second Wegmans supermarket in Bucks County is preparing for its grand opening in Lower Makefield Township in March.

A Grocery Outlet is coming to Warwick Township and Whole Foods is planning a store at the former Barn Plaza in Doylestown Township.

A planner outlined plans for a passive park at the former U.S. Navy base in Warminster at the recent township supervisors meeting.

WARMINSTER, PA —The future of Shenandoah Woods now has a concept plan attached to it.

The township unveiled its plans to transform the former U.S. Department property into a passive park at the recent Warminster Board of Supervisors meeting.

Judy Stern Goldstein, the township's planner from Gilmore and Associates, rolled out the concept plan for Shenandoah Woods, a relatively clean slate now after the township spent the past few years tearing down houses and removing concrete slabs.

The triangle-shaped park will feature paved trails and serve as an extension of Warminster Community Park, Goldstein said.

"It's a nice concept," Supervisors Vice Chairman Kenneth said at the Jan. 18 meeting. "This will be a nice showcase for other parts of the county and the state."

Goldstein said the park will have three concepts: for children's education, stormwater management, and passive recreation and education.

The first concept includes plans for a Storybook Walk, which would create a walk along a path in which pages of a story are featured. Then there's the Little Free Library, where books are left and people can take some as well. There's also the Born Learning Trail, which focuses on early childhood education like the ABCs, colors, shapes, animals, and bugs. The last is called Nature Play, which will use natural elements for play and outdoor classrooms.

Goldstein said this is an area where the township can get a lot of input. She foresees using the passive park as a showcase for being sustainable and green. This concept will feature pollinator parks, stormwater management gardens, and demonstration trails, a woodland restoration area, rain gardens with native planting, and bird blinds.

This will serve as a historic interpretation of the trails where people will learn about the site and how the park was used in the past "to make sure the history is not forgotten," Goldstein said.

After a decades-long effort to repurpose the abandoned U.S. Navy Department property and construction over the past six months to clear it, township officials declared in June that the remaining work on Shenandoah Woods was finished.

The RDA and township acquired the 55-acre property from the U.S. Navy in 2021. The site was a military housing complex and consisted of 199 townhouse units until it was vacated.

Shenandoah Woods was approved to be razed in 2012.

The vacant development was designated a blighted area in 2011 by the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority and the Warminster Planning Commission, given the area’s inadequate planning, faulty street layout, and economically undesirable land use.

"It's a lot to take in at once," Goldstein said about the concept plan.

"It looks great, doesn't it?" Supervisors Chairwoman Kathy Frescatore said.

Goldstein said the park will maintain vehicular access on Bristol Road, reuse existing infrastructure with a service road, and existing roads becoming trails.

"We don't want to disregard what is there and want to pay homage to what is there," she said.

There will be a small parking lot with 25 spaces at the park, a pedestrian connection to Warminster Community Park, and a small pavilion.

"A lot of stuff is packed into the site. We believe it's all doable," Goldstein said. "The overall concept plan can be implemented in phases as funding is available."

"We will have to shake some cages to get some funding," Hayes said. "I know some people right off the bat to start with: our congressman, two senators, and state representatives. We will move forward from there."

Township Engineer Craig Kennard said there was a recent meeting discussing the project's cost. He said the Parks and Recreation Director Jessica Fox is concerned about how high the cost may be for the passive park.

"This is a massive project," Hayes said. "It will be done in phases to make it affordable. It's a great start. We already got the houses removed. The DEP was on board and offered to help us. Now we have something to present to them. It's not going to happen overnight. Eventually it will be a beautiful passive area."

WARMINSTER, PA —The old Mike's Bar and Grill is getting a new name and a new look.

As the longtime eatery prepares to reopen under new ownership, the eatery on 544 York Rd. is now Mike's York Road Tavern.

The historic building has been renovated and the bar has been enlarged to better serve customers. The banquet rooms have also been updated, its new owners said. See Photos Below

The new owner’s name is ironically Mike and plans to bring back many of the original Mike’s staples, such as Steak Bites, Stingers, Baby Back Ribs, and entertainment and musicians. New Flatbread and Seafood special dishes will also be offered.

“544 York Road has a special history in Bucks County! It means a lot to the community and to Warminster Township," Mike's Tavern said. "The Original Mike had a lot of success operating Mike’s Bar and Grill. We are looking to bring the lunch and dinner crowds back, especially for families that want to have a good meal in a comfortable environment. We hope to be a great option. We are bringing back several of the original Mike’s staff and our team is excited."

No opening date has been set yet.

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Built in the year 1730, the original stone part of the building is one of the oldest in Warminster township. It is believed the attic is haunted by the ghost of a girl named Penelope. Known for many years as the Warminster Hotel, was originally petitioned “to keep a house of entertainment for travelers and their horses."

"Looks great. Happy to see it's back to its historical roots," said Matthew Penge, president of the Warminster Historical Society.

Mike's Tavern said it has an experienced restaurant management team and kitchen staff that will help us serve our customers well.

"The Original Mike had some great staff. Several employees worked at Mikes Bar & Grill for nearly 20 years, for a reason. It had a great work environment and customer base, which is critical today,” Mike's Tavern said.

Banquet room and brunch options right now for special occasions are somewhat limited, the tavern's owner said.

The eatery is seeking line cooks, bussers, runners, and hostesses. Anyone interested should visit the tavern's website or email [email protected].

(Photos Courtesy of Mike's York Road Tavern)

WARMINSTER, PA —A parcel that has been discussed for development for about a dozen years has finally received the stamp of approval.

The Warminster Township Board of Supervisors unanimously signed off at its meeting Thursday night for the final plan approval of 20 single-family townhomes at 1250 W. Bristol Rd. that is located in an R-2 Zoning District.

"This project has been before us a few times, including twice last year," Solicitor Scott Holter said.

The project received preliminary land approval in April 2023.

Attorney Kellie McGowan, representing builder Cunningham Homes, told supervisors that the township's planning commissioner recommended final approval in late November.

Find out what's happening in Warminsterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Township Engineer Craig Kennard was first brought up as a court-stipulated project in 2012.

"It's been a long journey," he said. "This project is ready to go."

Before the approval, though, a few things needed to be squared away.

The first matter involved a Centennial School District bus stop at the site.

McGowan said that it has been requested and that it would be added if "Centennial deems it desirable." She said a location would then be identified.

Another matter involved a 15-foot access to the property that township officials said they would leave up to Fire Marshal Joe Venton to decide.

Sidewalks and curbing were also discussed.

McGowan said she wasn't sure if that might be good for the property with its proximity to the Neshaminy Bridge, Meetinghouse Road, and a nearby creek.

"I think this is a safety issue," Kennard said, "We could try to put in whatever we can but given the location of the Neshaminy Creek, I have concerns that it would get washed away since it's in a flood plain. I can't guarantee that the sidewalk will be there in five years."

Supervisors Vice Chairman Kenneth Hayes also said he took a video and pictures of the area and asked about improving the culvert from Log College under Bristol Road.

"There is a lot of water," Hayes said. "We've seen 100-year storms that are fairly frequent. But 500-year storms are becoming common now too."

The builder said the culvert improvement is part of the plan with PennDOT.

"My concern is that we're going to have to rescue people there," Hayes said. "We want to be sure with major storms that it drains quickly."