'Hulmeville Hill' Spared From Development After Decision

HULMEVILLE BOROUGH, PA — The Battle for Hulmeville Hill may be over. At least for now.

A Bucks County judge has reversed the Hulmeville Borough Council's decision to grant “conditional use” to a developer who proposed building homes and apartments on 45 acres that include land called Hulmeville Hill.

"We are all very happy with the findings. The developer didn't have all the requirements needed to file the application," Patricia Taggart, president of The Hulmeville Conservation Committee, told Patch on Thursday.

The group of concerned citizens organized to preserve the "natural beauty and limit development" of the property formerly identified as Harriet Black’s Farm and Langhorne Wood Products Co.

The organization said the development on the hill bordering the William Penn Fire House would impact the environment and wildlife, especially a meadow that provides a feeding ground for birds of prey and many other animals. Flying squirrels, fox, owls, deer, and eagles consider the meadow and adjoining woods their home, HCC states.

The development decision was appealed in October 2023. The judge ruled that the council “erred in granting conditional use approval,” committing “an error of law” when it OK’d Superior Holdings’ plan despite the developer failing to meet key zoning requirements, Taggart said.

"This is a long-time coming," Taggart said.

A Change.org petition was launched to oppose the project, and had over 3,500 signatures. The organization had also created a Facebook page.

Taggart said that the project is now back in the hands of the developer, who could refile for conditional use, build by right, or "realize the property is unbuildable and sell it."

"Obviously, we are concerned," she said. "It's a piece of land that's clean and green. The neighborhood has been walking the property for over 30 years. It's a piece of nature in the middle of the suburbs."