South Whitehall commissioners have brought an end to four years of waiting to see what will happen to the historic King George Inn, located at the intersection of Cedar Crest and Hamilton boulevards.

During their May 20 meeting, the board granted final approval to the Hotel Hamilton major development plan, which includes preservation of the inn.

The plan proposes development of 5.4 acres along Hamilton Boulevard to include a 4,000-square-foot bank, 14,500-square-foot pharmacy, a 100-room extended stay hotel, 192 parking spaces and stormwater management facilities, and a commitment to retain and preserve the inn.

Developer Atul Patel received preliminary approval for the Hotel Hamilton proposal in February 2016 and additional extensions in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The plan recommended for final approval by the township planning commission in February 2020, subject to 24 conditions.

Project engineer Harold Newton said the main delays were with stormwater and drainage issues across the site, which have been addressed with the addition of a culvert.

He also noted one of the project’s intents had been to save the inn, which Newton said has been restored “as best we can” to some of its original condition.

“We’ve come a long way,” Newton said. “With the time that we spent on this project, we think it’s well spent.”

Newton was asked about the inn’s future.

He said the developer has been looking at adaptive reuse of the building but said there are no potential tenants at this time.

He added the facades facing Cedar Crest and Hamilton boulevards will not be changed from their original look, though interior renovations, upgrades and additions will be required for adaptive reuse to make the building ADA-compliant.

Commissioners’ President Christina “Tori” Morgan and the other commissioners congratulated Newton and the developer on their plan approval and decision to save the inn.

“I think it will be a beautiful enhancement to that corridor,” Morgan said. “Looking forward to see some great things happen.”

Originally constructed in 1755, the King George Inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

The next commissioners’ meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 3.