Township Wants Public Help in Historic Preservation Effort

A consultant who might be hired to help South Whitehall Township craft and adopt a historic preservation ordinance cut his fee proposal by more than a third, but township commissioners still were not ready to hire him.

Instead, commissioners on Wednesday night decided to seek volunteers to form a subcommittee to help steer a burgeoning effort at historic preservation. Once formed, one of the committee’s first tasks will be to begin developing an inventory of buildings—such as the 257-year-old King George Inn—that should be protected by township law.

Commissioners did not decide to outright reject the proposal of Thomas J. Comitta Associates, a West Chester-based planning firm with experience in helping other Pennsylvania municipalities establish zoning districts and laws to preserve and protect historic assets.

But it was clear they remained concerned about the proposed cost—now $26,660—of paying the consulting firm.

“I just think it’s ridiculous,” said Commissioner Dale W. Daubert.

Comitta had initially asked for $41,500, which included the cost of paying his team to develop a list of structures worthy of preservation. Asked by commissioners how to reduce the fee, Comitta said the township could develop its own list and save his team a week of work.

Comitta was the only respondent to a township request for proposals on crafting a preservation law that was advertised after public outcry over the proposed demolition of the King George Inn on Hamilton Boulevard.

Developer Atul Patel has proposed demolishing the stone building and two neighboring retail structures and building a new commercial neighborhood with a bank, a restaurant and a drug store.

But after hearing from township officials about their concern for the historic building, Patel has temporarily put those plans aside and is considering alternatives that would allow the King George to remain standing, according to township solicitor Joseph Zator.

The project is currently on the agenda for the township’s next Zoning Hearing Board meeting on Nov. 25, though it will likely be postponed again, said Gerald Harbison, the township’s community development director.