The future of Patterson Farm in Lower Makefield Township remains uncertain as the township and a local group both seek to preserve the space in different ways, writes Dan Sullivan for Lancaster Farming.
The 234-acre farm, settled by Quaker Thomas Janney in 1683, was purchased by the township as open space in 1998 for $7.2 million.
The township recently applied to have the farm added to the National Register of Historic Places and received a grant at the end of last year to repair many of the historic buildings.
Donna Doan and her father, Duane Doan Jr., who grew up on the farm, formed the advocacy group Patterson Farm Preservation, Inc. with their neighbors to ensure it remains in agriculture.
Doan stated that the current plan will add a parking lot, a driveway, and streetlights, along with converting most of the buildings into an artist village in the center of the farm.
According to Doan, this is not zoning-compliant as the farm is in the township’s agricultural security area.
“We want to know if we can propose a different plan that would make more sense, be more financially responsible for the taxpayers, keep the costs low for the ongoing maintenance of the farm, and honor the heritage, really, of that place and what it is, and secure the future for agriculture,” said Doan.
Read more about the uncertain future of Patterson Farm in Lower Makefield Township in Lancaster Farming.
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