Delco Motels Could Be Closed Due To Continued Criminal Activity

SPRINGFIELD, PA — Officials in Springfield Township are again cracking down on two motels that have been the focal point of criminal activity after previously closing them down.

Springfield Township decided this week to temporarily suspend the operational licenses for the Days Inn and Parkway Inn on Baltimore Pike due to the "continued strain on police and emergency personnel caused by crime and illegal activity at the facilities."

More than 630 emergency calls to the motels have been made since January 2017, including two deaths from drug overdoses that month, according to the township.

That led the township to issue the motels license suspension notices in April this year.

The notices led motel operators commit to a settlement agreement before the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in May. The agreement stipulated the owners make various changes to address chronic criminal activity at their establishments and reduce the burden the facilities were placing on law enforcement personnel.

However, emergency and law enforcement responses to the facilities have continued at a high rate since May, officials said. The township said incidents include an assault of a police officer who was responding to an emergency call at one of the facilities, as well as drug overdoses, fights, and an alleged rape.

Officials are hosting a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1 on the suspension and potential revocation of the motels' operational licenses.

Following notification of the pending license suspension this week, the motel operators got a court order delaying the suspension pending a hearing before the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on Monday.

The court did, however, impose immediate restrictions on the motels that limit their occupancy to existing occupants with existing reservations. No new occupants, rentals, and no new reservations are permitted.

At its May 12 public meeting, the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution that made a number of updates and revisions to the township’s Hotel, Motel, and Inn ordinance. The revisions to the ordinance included provisions related to the issuance of motel licenses, inspection of facilities, and suspension of licenses.

Violations of township ordinances cited in the suspension notice included:

• Calls that resulted in police or fire department personnel being dispatched to the properties that exceed the number of hotel rooms at a facility over a three month period, referred to as "call for service" ratio;
• nuisance violations of Chapter 68 and Chapter 79 of Springfield Township Code;
• violations of Federal or State law or local ordinances which create risk to the health, safety and welfare of the transients or to the Community or where such violations bring into question whether the License is of suitable character to operate the business;
• and conducting business in an unlawful manner as to constitute a maintenance of a nuisance as defined in this chapter upon or in connection with the Proposed Licensed premises.