After 18 months of discussion, arguments and objections, the Doylestown Township supervisors paved the way for high-end townhouses on the 24-acre Hart property.
The board voted 4-1 on Aug. 18 to change the zoning from I-2 institutional to R-1 residential. That means developer Dave Zaveta of Zaveta Custom Homes has the green light to go ahead with his plans for 36 high-end townhouses.
Supervisor Christina Maida cast the sole no vote.
Maida, a 34-year-old millennial, said her reason was the affordability of houses in the township. Existing townhouses in Bucks County range from $500,000 to $750,000, according to Zillow.
“People my age are priced out of the housing
market,” she said after the meeting. “I could not in good conscience vote for this.”
The issue heads back to the township's planning commission officials, who must navigate land development topics such as traffic and environmental impact, lighting and drainage studies before this matter returns to supervisors for a final vote.
The board’s move keeps half the land as open space and preserves several semi-historic buildings on the property. Those include a house that has portions that date to the 18th century, a barn and other smaller structures.
This property is owned by the Bucks County Historical Society, which has said it needs the cash from the sale to maintain its premier properties, the Mercer MuseumandFonthill Castle.
No one who identified themselves as representing the historical society spoke at the meeting.
The vote came after nearly two hours of public comment from opponents and supporters of Zaveta’s plan.
“I have heard no argument for why housing on this land should be prioritized over the preservation of the land, other than it will be sold either way and the other options will be worse,” said Amanda Young, who lives in Plumstead but who grew up in Doylestown with Fonthill Castle as her “playground.”
She said if the township concedes half the property for preservation, “What is to stop us from doing this the same in 100 years? How do we set a precedent on what we preserve?”
But several residents who live near the Hart property said the acreage is an untended mess, with fallen trees and a house that continues to deteriorate.
Eileen Seik, who lives next door to the Hart property in the Doylestown Hunt subdivision, spoke in favor of Zaveta’s development.
“You look at that poor, sad, dilapidated property, and each year it gets sadder and sadder,” she said.
“I haven’t heard anybody come forth … who is willing to develop this property and preserve it. It’s an ugly, falling-down building right now.”
Seik said Zaveta’s plan looks good to her.
“In a perfect world, it would be wonderful to keep it as (open space), but I certainly know the property is going to be sold and I would really feel good if it was in the capable hands of Mr. Zaveta,” she said.
Board Chair Jennifer Herring noted that some of the vocal opposition to the development came from people who don't live in the township, while all of those who spoke in favor of it live in the township.
She addressed a concern raised by opponents of the plan: that American Revolutionary War soldiers who had decamped from Valley Forge came to Bucks County and set up by the thousands on the Hart property.
Herring told members of the audience that she researched the historical record concluded that it’s unlikely George Washington slept here.
“While I can’t say it isn’t true," she said, "I couldn’t find any evidence."
JD Mullane can be reached at jmullane@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Doylestown Township approves luxury townhouses at Hart property
