West Whiteland planning commission recommends approval of 9,388 sq. ft. warehouse at 411 Clover Mill Rd.

The West Whiteland Township Planning Commission on May 21 recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a land development plan to build a 9,388‑square‑foot warehouse for long‑term, climate‑controlled vehicle storage at 411 Clover Mill Road.

Planning Director John Weller told the commission the lot is in the I‑2 zoning district and is one of three parcels comprising Township Historic Resource No. 115, the Joseph Price Estate; the Historical Commission previously recommended approval conditioned on a substantial landscaped buffer. Weller said the proposed building complies with applicable I‑2 standards, does not create any new nonconformities, and that county planners found the application consistent with the Chester County Comprehensive Plan.

Why it matters: the commission’s recommendation, if adopted by the Board of Supervisors, would permit the applicant to construct the warehouse subject to a set of technical and financial conditions intended to protect neighboring properties, ensure emergency access and secure required infrastructure improvements.

The applicant, represented by Adam Brower of Edward B. Walsh & Associates, said the plan retains two existing light‑industrial buildings on the lot, removes a proposed front parking area to improve the roadway view and preserves two access drives used for Penske Truck Rental operations. Property owner Michael Frantz described the building as a climate‑controlled facility for long‑term storage of high‑end vehicles, "stacked three high," and staffed by a single employee. Frantz said "no fuel will be stored on-site, nor will there be any vehicle maintenance." Mr. Brower confirmed the applicant will comply with consultant comments and will restore any paving on Clover Mill Road disturbed by the sewer connection work.

Key conditions: the commission voted 4‑0 to recommend approval with 17 conditions. They include approval as a Final Plan under S/LDO §281‑10.H; a waiver of the sidewalk construction requirement in exchange for a fee in lieu payable to the Township sidewalk fund; landscape buffer requirements and related waivers per Theurkauf’s May 12, 2026 review; a waiver of the landscaped parking‑island requirement on the grounds that islands would obstruct truck circulation; a requirement that truck‑turning diagrams be revised to confirm the largest Township fire truck can navigate the site; restoration of any paved area of Clover Mill Road that is excavated for the sanitary sewer extension, with restoration costs included in project financial security; payment of a sanitary sewer tapping fee for one EDU at building permit application; and a traffic impact fee of $30,429 prior to issuance of any building permit.

Utilities and site operations: Brower said most of the new sewer main would be installed by directional drilling to minimize paving disruption. Brower also confirmed there will be a separate water line for fire suppression, building‑mounted lighting plus two full cut‑off light poles to meet ordinance requirements, and that runoff from the new building will be directed to lawn areas with no proposed retention basins; SSM raised no concerns about the stormwater approach. Weller said Public Works needs more specific information about site activities to confirm final EDU calculations and sewer capacity.

Easement and circulation: the commission discussed a 30‑foot easement along the western lot line referenced in the Bowman review; Frantz said he was unaware of the easement’s purpose. The applicant and commission agreed there was no immediate detriment to retaining the easement, and that the effort to extinguish it would not be productive if the easement benefits a neighboring property.

Public comment and next steps: there was no public comment on the application. The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors for final action. The motion recommending approval was made by Dan Cote, seconded by Priyanka Gupta, and passed 4‑0.