Kelce Family Gets OK For New Haverford Home Construction Variances

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — The First Family of Delaware County is looking to get a special variance for their residential property in Haverford Township as they plan to construct a new home for their growing family

Jason and Kylie Kelce have called the township home since 2018.

The former Eagles star and now podcaster wife make their home at Coopertown Road with daughters Wyatt, Elliotte, and Bennett. Kylie Kelce is pregnant with the couple's fourth child.

The beloved Delconians last week sought approval from Haverford Township to make changes to their property.

According to the board, the Kelces sought to install a fence on their land and to "disturb deep slopes where a previously built swimming pool had created this deep slope. A third application was submitted, but ultimately withdrawn over the Kelces' consideration of their neighbor's concerns.

Attorney Ji Min Jun, who is representing the Kelces, said the fence would provide "a safer entry into the properties, as well as provide security for the residents."

As for the slopes, Jun said they were disturbed during the filing of the zoning variance application process, and thus the Kelces are seeking a retroactive variance.

Jason Kelce himself appeared as a witness, being the applicant, and jokingly told the board "I don't know the process" when he stepped up to the dais during their Thursday meeting.

"Three architects later and many years," he said, "we are trying to build a home."

The couple decided to purchase their Haverford property due to Kylie Kelce's connection to the area and their mutual desire to start a home locally.

"Obviously things for my family are quite unique," he said. "We would just like to deter a little bit of the foot traffic coming in and out of the home."

Thus, they want to install a fence to do so while maintaining the aesthetic, he said.

For their new home they plan to construct, Jason Kelce said the existing driveway would be replaced with grass and the driveway location changed and gated.

Civil engineer Timothy Davis told the board the slopes in question were created when a home was built in the 1970s. A bank was created on the property to allow walk-out access to a pool and were not natural, he said.

"With the demolition of the existing house, the new house is proposing to a relatively flat site," he said.

While the slope was manmade, the board still must approve returning the property to its initial grading. The slopes were disturbed accidentally during demolition of the former home and the township was immediately informed of the action and received the variance application, Davis said.

Neighbor Wendy De La Rosa expressed concerns about potential flooding and runoff water due to the removal of the slopes, namely during construction.

Zoning Hearing Board Member Robert Kane said approval of the variance would come with conditions to control water runoff so it doesn't adversely affect neighbors.

De La Rosa said since work began, she has noticed changes to her property during rains.

Davis responded by saying there will be increased runoff during construction, but said sediment controls, approved by the Delaware County Conservation District and authorized by the Department of Environmental Protection, are in place.

He said those sediment controls do not address stormwater until construction is finalized, which he said would entail returning impervious surfaces to water-permeating surfaces.

Davis also said work could be done to direct runoff water to a preferable location and that the team is willing to take that action.

Landscape architect Matthew Nelson said the new driveway would be shifted about 80 feet down Coopertown Road, and would remove a brick wall and existing gate at the driveway.

New fencing would follow some of the existing fencing, with some changes. The fence at one location would be about 60 feet back from the street, while only about 16 feet from it at other locations, he said. Nelson also said there is a plan to construct a delivery turnaround in the driveway, prior to the gate.

The existing fence is 3-and-a-half-feet tall, which will remain through to the gate area, which will feature taller fencing.

Nelson said they are aiming to preserve as much existing fencing while introducing "a little bit of safety and security" for the Kelce family.

"The design intent was to maintain the existing character of the street scape and of that fence, which is appropriate for this property," he said. "It kind of has a rustic, open feeling and we wanted to lean into that."

A fence diving the properties will also be removed, Nelson said.

Additional landscaping will be added to "further soften the views" of the new fencing.

"We are really trying to work with what's there and blend into the community," Jun said. "And I think that was important to the Kelces."

At the end of the meeting, the board granted the requested variances, under the condition that stormwater runoff management is in place to mitigate any adverse effects of neighboring properties, and that the work being done under the variances be completed in two years' time.