Patterson Farm's Future Weighed At Public Forum Tuesday

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —The second and final public forum to shape the future of historic Patterson Farm takes place Tuesday.

Architectural firm Seiler + Drury will present preliminary master plan recommendations on the long-term vision for the 234-acre farm on Mirror Lake Road. See video below for an overview of the farm

Costs and design proposals for all 15 buildings on the property with two or three reuse options for each building will also be presented.

An ad hoc committee formed to fight for the preservation of historic Patterson Farm is urging residents to attend the forum and provide feedback. The committee is a group of non-partisan, resident volunteers and professionals organized at the request of the Lower Makefield Township to help maintain the farm's 300-plus year history.

The forum will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the LMT building, 1100 Edgewood Rd. Three public forums had originally been planned.

“The Master Plan is a long-term, strategic document to guide future decision-making to help mold Patterson Farm into a beloved agricultural, historical, and natural open space for the community to enjoy for years to come,” said Dennis Steadman, the committee's chairman.

Township Manager David Kratzer said the master plan needs to deliver three key elements: paint a vision of what the Patterson Farm property can be 10 years from now, recommend a path to get there, and make specific recommendations for stage one.

The first public forum on June 26 was attended by more than 140 residents.

Township officials said the forum made it clear that residents want to see changes and improvements made and found the status quo unacceptable. While there was a wide variation in opinions as to the best future for the site, there was a clear consensus that the land remains in farming and that the community wants greater access.

“Our team of professional architects, engineers, and land economists have worked diligently to develop the master plan for Patterson Farm,” said Doug Seiler, principal of Seiler + Drury Architecture.

Patterson Farm on Mirror Lake Road is located at the entrance of the township from Interstate 95. Township officials said it's an "exceptional resource" for open space, farm fields, historic farmsteads, and natural beauty.

The property and buildings, purchased by the township in 1998, are mostly unavailable to the public due to active farming operations and the unsafe condition of most buildings.

With the right focused investment, this historic Quaker farm can become a true long-lasting asset to the LMT community —historically, agriculturally, environmentally, and educationally.

“The AHPC was formed because Patterson Farm is now at a crossroads. While the land is being farmed for local produce and other crops, the historic buildings have reached a condition where they must either be invested in and saved or the status quo will see them become non-viable,” Steadman said. “We hope residents will come and help us decide the future of this important historical and beautiful agricultural site.”

The Ad-Hoc Property Committee (AHPC) holds public meetings via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Videos of past meetings are available for viewing on the Lower Makefield Township YouTube page.