An Application To Build 300 Homes In Westtown Township Was Denied Toll Brothers

WESTTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A plan to build more than 300 new homes on 322 acres of land in Westtown Township's Crebilly Farm ended with the Supervisors' denial of a conditional use application from the developer, Toll Brothers.

Westtown Township's Board of Supervisors held a special meeting Wednesday evening to address the conditional use application filed with the Township by Toll PA Xv, LP, Toll Brothers, to develop 11 parcels totaling 322 acres. More than 300 homes were proposed for the property known locally as Crebilly Farm.

Township Solicitor Patrick McKenna told the Board in Wednesday's meeting that Toll's attorney had given notification that Toll "no longer had an equitable interest" in the Crebilly Farm property. The solicitor explained this meant there no longer have a valid agreement of sale.

This announcement was followed by loud applause from the meeting's attendees.

But Toll Brothers had not withdrawn the conditional use permit filed with Westtown Township, and the Board was obligated to make a decision on that matter by Sept. 27, the Solicitor said.

Board of Supervisors Chair Carol De Wolf made a motion to deny Toll's conditional use application because Toll, with no valid agreement of sale, now lacked standing to apply. Also, there were no other applicants, De Wolf noted.

The Board agreed with the motion, unanimously voting to deny the application.

Applause and cheering followed the vote from residents gathered. One resident stood and thanked the Board of Supervisors, saying residents were "grateful" they had listened to concerns for the quality of life in the Township.

Between July 12 and Aug. 11 the Board had received public submissions concerning the conditional use permit, and residents made it known they did not support the development.

Elizabeth Moro said, "We were elated with the announcement! It was the victory of all the people standing together and showing up with a dedication to this community." Moro lives in nearby Pennbury Township.

Toll Brothers is a Virginia-based builder of luxury homes that has 35 developments in the Philadelphia area, according to its website, including The Village at Valley Forge, Darlington Ridge in West Chester, and Enclave at Chester Springs.

The next meeting of the Westtown Township Board of Supervisors is Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

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