Rock Hill Farm Plan Before Willistown Planning Commission

WILLISTOWN, PA —A proposed development at the Rock Hill Farm is expected to be discussed at a Willistown Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

The meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. in Villa Maria Academy, 370 Central Ave., Malvern.

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.

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.

Several hundred area residents in the group, Save Rock Hill Farm, have been protesting the development. The group is composed of residents from Willistown and Easttown townships.

The group is hoping that planning commission members will see the deficiencies in this project and reject the development.

History

Rock Hill Farm was originally a 14,031-square-foot manor with five secondary homes and horse stables on 222 acres of wetlands, rolling hills, and streams.

The estate's history goes back to the 18th century when the land was bought by Benjamin Cox, a founding Quaker,

Rock Hill was maintained by Tristram C. Colket Sr., the grandson of John T. Dorrance St., founder of the Campbell Soup fortune.

The property has stables, a spring house, a tea house, greenhouses, garages and a pool.

It was on the market in May 2021 for $38 million.