Resident group urges moratorium on demolition of historic 905 West Towne Road

Steven Lyons, president of State Foresight Farm, told the West Goshen Planning Commission on July 14 that his nonprofit is seeking to preserve 905 West Towne Road, a Quaker property dating to 1818, and asked whether a conservator had applied for a demolition permit.

"My name is Steven Lyons. I'm the president for State Foresight Farm, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which seeks for the preservation and historic commemoration of 905 West Towne Road," Lyons said, asking whether conservator Carl Ewald had sought a formal demolition permit and requesting the commission consider a moratorium while his group pursues fundraising and acquisition options.

Chair responded that the planning commission had no jurisdiction over demolition permits and that no demolition-related application had been filed with planning. A township staff member confirmed, "There have been no applications that have been filed in the planning commission," and explained demolition permits are issued by the township codes department.

Lyons said his group was effectively excluded from the conservatorship process and urged the commission to note community concern; commission members reiterated the limits of the commission's authority over demolition and encouraged Lyons to pursue the appropriate legal channels and codes department filings.

The commission took no formal action on the request; staff directed that any applications or permitting filings received by the township would be processed through the usual public-notice and review rules.