Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Subdivision topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission recommends approval of four‑lot subdivision at Folly Cottage despite disputed attribution
Summary
The Historical Commission recommended approval of a four‑lot subdivision at 570 Colebrook Road, conditioned on landscaping screening, while members debated conflicting records about whether the house is a Frank Lloyd Wright design or by John Howe. The applicant will seek a variance from Section 325-25 at the Zoning Hearing Board on April 23.
The West Whiteland Historical Commission on April 13 voted to recommend approval of a proposed four‑lot subdivision at 570 Colebrook Road that would create three new residential lots along Whitford Hills Road while retaining the existing historic dwelling.
Attorney Robert Jefferson, representing the applicants, said the plan will be before the Zoning Hearing Board on April 23 to request a variance from Section 325-25 (lot averaging). The applicant plans to subdivide a 5.13-acre tract; the Williams pipeline, street right-of-way, and steep slopes reduce the net acreage to 3.902 acres, just below the 4-acre net required. Jefferson said each of the three new lots would be about 23,000 square feet, and the lot for the existing home would be roughly 99,000 square feet.
Applicant Vernon McIntyre disputed the Historic Resource Inventory listing and said the house is a John Howe design, calling Howe "the pencil for Frank Lloyd Wright." The inventory lists the site as a Frank Lloyd Wright–designed home; Ms. Quigley said she reviewed the application based on the Inventory listing, while Mr. McIntyre provided a rebuttal for commission members and pointed to an email from John Weller, the township's Director of Planning and Zoning, offering further opinion about the designation.
Commission members discussed the potential impact on the historic resource and acknowledged the site's steep grade and existing tree buffer. The commission conditioned its recommendation on review of the landscaping plan to ensure the northern tree buffer will provide adequate screening of the historic resource from the new homes. The motion to recommend approval and grant the requested variance finding no adverse impact on the historic resource passed 4-0 (Anderson/Martin), and the subdivision relief will be considered by the Zoning Hearing Board on April 23.
Ms. Quigley advised the commission that research should be conducted to determine where the Frank Lloyd Wright reference originated; Mr. Gorman said the township intends to update and revise the Historic Resource Inventory more frequently going forward.
