BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Borough Council raised concerns Monday after learning the Bellefonte Waterfront Project may face a significant change that could delay construction.

Developers are weighing the removal of 35,000 square feet of retail space and 48 condos from the project, which would leave its second building as merely a parking garage.

The proposed changes have not been finalized, and Building 1 of the Waterfront will still feature a nationally branded boutique hotel with 93 rooms and a farm-to-table restaurant offering rooftop views.

The project’s plan, which had already been revised once, was approved unanimously by council in March.

In a memo to council, HARB, Zoning and Planning Administrator Gina Thompson reported that Walt Schneider, agency director at Centre Region Code Administration, told her the developers — Tom Songer II, a local engineer, and Mark Morath, chairman of Hospitality Asset Management (HAMCO) — were considering constructing Building 2 solely as a parking garage, without sprinklers or condominiums.

While permissible under Code, the change would strip away the commercial and residential components originally approved, with no obligation to add them later.

“This raises concern that the project could result in a stand-alone parking garage adjacent to the hotel, rather than the intended mixed-use structure,” Thompson wrote.

At the meeting, she also noted the plan modification could impact the conditional uses granted to the project.

“There is no change at this time,” Thompson stressed to council, adding the memo was meant to keep them informed of potential modifications to the project and to note that her office is reviewing whether such changes would require returning to the Planning Commission and Historic Architectural Review Board.

“I think if there were significant changes to the proposed plan, it would delay the project significantly.” she said. “However, in conversations with Centre Region Code, different options have come up as to how to proceed with that development.”

Concerned about potential delays, Councilman Doug Johnson suggested sending a letter outlining council’s concerns to the developers.

“This borough and borough council has done everything within our means to get this project off the ground, and each time there is a delay from his side of the project. We have done everything we can to accommodate him,” Johnson said. “This is quite concerning to me as a councilmember.”

“That creates a whole new picture down there with no condominiums for sale and just a parking garage and hotel,” he added.

Echoing Johnson, Council President Barbara Dann said, “We have done everything possible to help this along, and I do find it disturbing there is such a change in that.”

Songer was unavailable for comment as of press time on Tuesday.

The Bellefonte Waterfront Project is moving forward with support from architects, Laucks Architects, P.C., and Edward L. Olsen, Jr.; engineering firms, Pennoni and PennTerra Engineering, Inc.; and design firm, Weber Murphy Fox.