Morgan Properties seeks zoning relief to construct an 85+ foot office tower on Conshohocken’s riverfront

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Conshohocken | Business News , Local News

October 27th, 2024 | By Kevin Tierney

On the November 18th agenda (view) for Conshohocken’s zoning hearing board is an application from Morgan Properties, through an associated entity, Millennium IV Land Owner LLC, seeking zoning relief to construct an office tower on the undeveloped riverfront property behind the Millennium II & III office buildings and just upriver from the Lumina apartment community. The Borough of Conshohocken also operates a helipad within a 100′ strip it controls along the riverfront.

Morgan Properties has invested heavily in Conshohocken in recent years. In 2018, it purchased the Millennium I, II, and III office buildings and, in 2024, moved its headquarters to the campus from its original home in King of Prussia. In 2022, it purchased the property it now seeks to develop.

The requested zoning relief includes the following:

  • Section §27-1503.3.C – to permit a building height greater than 85 feet for a building that is located further than 2,000 feet from a SEPTA rail station;
  • Section §27-1504.F.(2) – to permit a maximum impervious coverage of 79%, whereas not more than 70% of the area of any lot in the SP-2 zoning district is permitted;
  • Section §27-1505.B.(3) – to permit a building separation on the same lot of 17.9 feet, whereas a minimum 30 feet building separation is required;
  • Section §27-1509.2.C – to permit a visible parking structure fronting parallel to the Schuylkill River in connection to a maximum building profile of 350 feet; and,
  • Section §27-1514.1.A, B, D, F, G, H, and K – to permit the construction of the proposed office buildings with podium parking decks and associated site clearing, filling, placement, and related improvements within the FP- Floodplain conservation overlay district, whereas such activities, uses, and permanent structures are prohibited.

A previous owner of the property, Brian O’Neil’s O’Neil Properties, successfully secured similar zoning relief for an office building that was never constructed (view), and the approvals expired. At the time, O’Neil was pitching the site to AmerisourceBergen for its new headquarters, which was eventually built at the corner of Fayette Street and West 1st Avenue in downtown Conshohocken. AmerisourceBergen has since changed its name to Cencora.

The hearing is scheduled for Monday, November 18th, at 6:30 p.m. at borough hall.

Photo: Google