Montgomery County, PA

 

NORRISTOWN — Responding to published reports that the Commonwealth may be interested in moving Graterford prison and sell the property, the Montgomery County Commissioners want to assure residents that they will do everything possible to preserve the associated open space.

 

Fortunately, Skippack Township officials recently rezoned the nearly 1,800-acre tract in conjunction with the County’s reformulation of its Master Plan. Under current zoning, the property can only be used for farming, open space and correctional facilities.  Any other use would be subject to full public input via a local hearing process and would have to be approved by township supervisors.
 
“Any future actions are years on the horizon, and would most likely be the rehabilitation and expansion of the prison at its current site” Commissioner James R. Matthews said.

 

“We want to assure residents and commuters in the area that any deviation from that likelihood will be thoroughly scrutinized by the Commissioners and the Montgomery County Planning Department and in conjunction with our county delegation to the General Assembly,” Matthews said.

 

Montgomery County has had similar challenges in the recent past.  Residents of the Norristown, West Norriton and East Norriton communities were deeply upset when the Commonwealth sought to divest itself of what is now known as the Norristown Farm Park.

     
The late Sen. Edwin Holl, with the full cooperation of the county’s Assembly delegation, arranged for the Montgomery County Commissioners to lease the 690-acre tract for a nominal fee in 1992.

 

The Commissioners are confident that if the Commonwealth does choose to divest, the wishes of County residents will be taken into account and, perhaps, a similar arrangement to Norristown Farm Park could be pursued.