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West Whiteland panel approves conditioned addition at Duck Pond Farmhouse
Summary
The Historical Commission approved a conditioned plan to connect the Duck Pond Farmhouse to its adjacent barn via a small breezeway, directing the owners to submit revised drawings showing roof materials and historically appropriate windows before building permits proceed.
The West Whiteland Historical Commission on April 13 approved a conditioned plan for a small addition that will connect the historic Duck Pond Farmhouse at 1151 S. Whitford Road to an adjacent barn and reduce the property's four-car garage to three spaces.
Tom Gillespie, one of the property owners, told the commission that he and his wife, Lori, "were not aware that their home was a designated historic resource when they purchased it" and that construction on a roughly 150-square-foot breezeway had already begun before the owners knew a commission review was required. The application proposes an A-frame dormer to match existing dormers, reuse of the house's wood casement bay window, James Hardie smooth clapboard siding beneath the dormers, and a mahogany glass door.
Carol Quigley, the township's historic consultant, recommended historically appropriate window fabric and exterior muntins for the front awning and dormer windows rather than matching the existing vinyl windows that the applicants said a previous owner had installed. Quigley raised concerns about the applicants' drawings not clearly depicting window style or operation; Mr. Gillespie indicated a wood canopy (awning) window is proposed for the front and that the dormer window would be divided light.
The commission voted to direct the applicants to provide an updated plan that specifies the roof material and the historically appropriate windows for the front awning and dormer. The commission also approved the proposed James Hardie siding and the re-use of the existing casement window, subject to the updated drawings and a separate code review for the roof and dormer work.
Planner Patrick Gorman noted that the roof and updated dormer style have not been reviewed by the Codes Department and will require a separate submission to the township for permitting. The commission recorded the action as passed 4-0 (McCormick/Anderson).
