Rock Hill Farm Development In Willistown Township In Limbo

WILLISTOWN, PA —An engineer prepared a report for the Willistown Planning Commission on the proposed development plans for the 246-acre Rock Hill Farm.

Yerkes Associates Inc., West Chester, prepared a report on plans presented in July and December 0f 2022 to develop portions of the Rock Hill Farm.

Rock Hill Farm was purchased for $25.4 million by Philadephia-area developer J. Brian O’Neill, who is seeking permission to build 22 luxury homes.

O’Neill asked the planning commission to approve a subdivision required for construction. The commission has not voted on the proposal.

In the meantime, several hundred area residents in the group, Save Rock Hill Farm, have been protesting the development.

The group has put up signs throughout the community to encourage residents to preserve the land as open space.

The property has a well to Crum Creek, which flows 24 miles through Chester and Delaware counties.

The group explained its position on its website here.

Question: Why Should I care what happens to this land?

“The proposed construction will destroy the township’s legacy of open space and scenic views. The land is rich in agricultural soils and is the headwater of Crum Creek, an already endangered waterway. Construction harms the environment. Increased traffic is another issue. ”