Zoning Hearing Board

Omar Fisher, 230 Rock Road, seeks a variance to Section 27-1702.A. of the 2018 Township Code of Ordinances, as amended, in order to operate a commercial tree service business on an 8.8-acre parcel in the A - Agricultural Zoning district. The application was reviewed at the January 22 PC meeting and was requested to come back to a future Planning Commission meeting with more details, which he did, on March 26th. The Board of Supervisors weighed in on the application at their April 8th meeting. At the hearing on April 20, 2026, the variance request was denied.

Zoning Hearing #2026-2, special exception application of John U. Stoltzfus, 76 Hill Road (22-11-57.5), to Section 27-1802.B.7. of the 2018 Township Code of Ordinances, as amended, in order to operate a short-term rental on the property in the RC - Resource Conservation zoning district. The Board of Supervisors took a position of support for the application at their February 11, 2026 meeting. At the March 16 hearing, the special exception was granted. The written decision was issued on April 9, 2026 (see below), and the appeal period ended May 9, 2026.

Amos Fisher, Cambridge Road, is seeking variances to operate a Rural Occupation formerly operated by another family at 821 / 817 Compass Road (Tax Parcel Number 22-6-41). The applicant is seeking variances from Sections 27-1033.H.(1), 27-1033.H.(10)(a), and 27-1033.H.(10)(i) to operate a dry goods store as a non-resident of the property in the A - Agricultural zoning district, with four non-resident employees, and with a retail area in excess of 15% of the area of the building from which the store operates.

The Honey Brook Borough Authority (HBBA), 925 Twin County Road, (Tax Parcel 22-3-46.2), seeks variances to Sections 27-1705.F.(6), 27-1705.F.(7), and 27-907.B., in order to expand an existing driveway and construct a garage within the rear yard setback, in excess of the permitted impervious coverage, and contain the improvements within a fence that exceeds the permitted height on a legally non-conforming 0.58-acre lot in the A - Agricultural zoning district.

Appeal of Lester Jason Helm to the denial of the Registration for a Non-Conforming Use application submitted to the Township to operate a junkyard at 351 Brandamore Road (Tax Parcel 22-11-49) was withdrawn on May 27, 2025. The applicant no longer intends to pursue that use.

Applicant granted a special exception to 27-1702.B.2 and a variance to 27-1033.E.(7) of the Zoning Ordinance of 2018, as amended, in order to operate a Limited-Impact Home Occupation at 179 Cupola Rd. (Tax Parcel Number 22-8-22.1), with employees arriving and leaving the premises at 6:00 am rather than 7:00 am, on a parcel located in the A - Agricultural zoning district. The written decision is below.

Applicant granted a variance to 27-1002.C.4. of the 2018 Zoning Ordinance, as amended, in order to construct an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in excess of the 50% habitable floor area as compared to the primary dwelling at 300 Poplar Rd. (Tax Parcel Number 22-3-35.2) in the A - Agricultural zoning district. The written decision is below. 

Benuel Stoltzfus, 200 Locust Drive (Tax Parcel Number 22-8-8.4B), sought a variance to Section 27-1033.H.(10)(c)(2) in order to construct an addition to an existing Rural Occupation building for storage. At the hearing on July 14, 2025, the variance was granted. The written decision is below.  

Applicant sought a variance to Section 27-902.D. of the Zoning Ordinance of 2018, as amended, in order to construct a barn for horses within the side-yard setback at 173 Lilly Rd. (Tax Parcel #22-9-52) in the RC - Resource Conservation zoning district. At the hearing on August 25, 2025, the variance was granted. The written decision is below.

John Kauffman, owner of 221 Suplee Road (TPN 22-7-1), requested a postponement of his hearing on September 16, 2024 and amended his application. He sought variances in order to renovate an accessory structure not previously used as an ADU into a short-term rental on a parcel less than 2 acres on his property in the MUR - Mixed-Use Residential zoning district. At the hearing on August 25, 2025, the variances were granted. The written decision is below.

Amos & Elizabeth Kauffman seek a special exception to Section 27-1702.A.11. of the Township Code of Ordinances in order to operate a Short-Term Rental (STR) at 180 Rock Road (22-9-24). Because the application meets the requirements for short-term rentals (Section 27-1065), it will not be discussed by the Planning Commission. The Board of Supervisors took a position of support for the application at its February 11 meeting. At the March 16 hearing, the special exception was granted. The written decision is due by April 30, 2026.

Samuel Riehl variance application to 27-402.A. in order to operate a short-term rental (STR) at 1775 Walnut Rd (22-6-6.7A) in the NR - Neighborhood Residential zoning district. The Board of Supervisors took a position of support at their December 10, 2025 meeting. The hearing was scheduled later in December 2025; however, the applicant failed to appear. The ZHB rejected the application, after which the applicant requested a rescheduling of the hearing. The rescheduled hearing took place on February 23, 2026, at 6:30 pm, and the variance was granted.

Benjamin Zook, 450 Reservoir Rd (22-3-25) seeks a special exception to 27-1702.B.2. and a variance to 27-1033.E.9., in order to operate a Limited-Impact Home Occupation (LIHO) with outdoor storage in the A - Agricultural zoning district. At the November 24th hearing, the ZHB granted the use. The written decision is below.

Sam and Rosie Stoltzfus, 475 Talbotville Rd (22-4-50.1A), seek a special exception to Section 27-1702.11. and variances to 27-1065.A.1. and 27-1065.A.5.e. in order to operate two short-term rentals (STRs) in their home, one on the second floor and one in a former Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in the A - Agricultural zoning district. At the January 19, 2026 hearing, the ZHB granted the special exception for the STR in the basement ADU but denied the 2nd STR in a second-floor bedroom. The written decision is below. The appeal period ends March 27, 2026.

Benjamin Kauffman, 1115 Park Road, is seeking a special exception to 27-1702.A.11. of the 2018 Zoning Ordinance, as amended, in order to operate a short-term rental (STR) in a former Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in the A - Agricultural zoning district. The application received a position of support from the Board of Supervisors at their October 8 meeting. The Zoning Hearing was scheduled for 6:30 pm on November 17, 2025; however, the applicant did not appear. The ZHB rejected the application. The written decision is below.

Dream Haven, LLC (represented by Katie King of Gap, PA) is seeking a variance to Section 27-402.A. of the Zoning Ordinance of 2018, as amended, in order to operate a short-term rental at 241 Dove Drive (22-8-70.29) in the NR - Neighborhood Residential zoning district. At the November 24th, 2025 hearing, the ZH Board denied the application. The written decision is below.

The Honeybrook Golf Club, 1422 Cambridge Road, is seeking a variance to Section 27-907 of the Zoning Ordinance of 2018, as amended, in order to erect fence netting in excess of the allowable 6' on their western property line. The Planning Commission discussed the application at their October 23 meeting and the Board of Supervisors discussed it at their November 12 meeting. The Zoning Hearing was held on November 17, 2025, and the decision to grant the variance was announced at the December 15 Zoning Hearing Board meeting. The written decision is below.

Special Exception application of John Arlin Stoltzfus, to Section 27-1802.B.7., in order to operate a short-term rental at 942 Welsh Road (22-4-20.1) in the RC - Resource Conservation zoning district. The Board of Supervisors took a position of support for the application at their November 12 meeting. At the December 15, 2025 hearing, the ZHB granted the special exception, on the condition that the applicant maintain the wooded area of the property to serve as a buffer for noise and light. The written decision is below.

The NCCMA is seeking variances to Section 27-1705.F.(1) in order to allow the legally non-conforming parcel at 3641 Horseshoe Pike (22-7-28) to be reduced to 0.425 acres from 0.6 acres in order to add 0.175 acres to their parcel at 3651 Horseshoe Pike (22-7-29.1) and to construct said station and a generator building to be within the rear yard setback in the A - Agricultural zoning district. At the November 24th meeting, the ZH Board granted the variances. The written decision is below.

Applicant seeks a special exception to Section 27-1702.B.11. of the Zoning Ordinance of 2018, as amended, in order operate a short-term rental in the A - Agricultural zoning district and a variance to Section 27-1065.A.2. in order to do so on a legally non-conforming parcel one acre in size at 521 Homestead Rd (22-4-77). At the Zoning Hearing on December 15, 2025, the ZHB granted the special exception and variance, conditioned upon the adjacent one-acre parcels currently owned by the applicant not receiving a Use & Occupancy permit for a home. The written decision is below.

Isaac Fisher, of 1063 Compass Rd (22-6-52), submitted a hearing application with respect to a retail store / lumberyard operating on the premises. The applicant granted a series of extensions of time in order for their application to be completed, the most recent of which grants a deadline of July 31, 2026 for the hearing to take place.

Special exception application of David & Sonia Stoltzfus, of 330 Todd Rd (22-4-66), to Section 27-1702.B.11., in order to operate a short-term rental (STR) on the premises in the A - Agricultural zoning district. At the hearing on January 12, 2026, the ZHB granted the special exception. The written decision is below.

Special exception & variance application of Henry Stoltzfus, to Sections 27-1702.B.11. and 27-1065.A.2., in order to operate a short-term rental (STR) at 1593 Cambridge Rd (22-7-70) in the A - Agricultural zoning district on a parcel less than 2 acres. At the January 19, 2026 hearing, the ZHB granted the special exception and variance, provided that a primary structure not be erected on the adjacent parcel 22-7-69.3. The written decision is below. The appeal period ends March 27, 2026.

Special exception application of Ben and Lois Stoltzfus, to Section 27-1802.B.7., in order to operate a short-term rental (STR) at 2700 Compass Rd (22-10-20) in the RC - Resource Conservation zoning district. The Board of Supervisors took a position of support for the application at their at their December 10, 2025 meeting. The applicants did not appear at their Zoning Hearing on January 12, 2026; therefore, the ZHB rejected the application. The applicant requested a rescheduling of their hearing, which took place on February 23, 2026.

Application of David & Priscilla Fisher, 85 North Street (22-6-24), for a special exception from Section 27-1702.B.(11) in order to operate a short-term rental on the premises and a variance from Section 27-1065.A.(2) to allow said short-term rental to be on a parcel less than two acres in size. The Board of Supervisors took a position of "no position" on both the special exception and variance at their January 5, 2026 meeting. At the January 19, 2026 hearing, the ZHB granted the special exception and variance. The written decision is below.

Application of USCMF UMH VT1 Honey Brook LLC (management company for Honey Ridge, a.k.a. Struble Ridge Manufactured Home Community), 2222 Horseshoe Pike (22-8-81), a variance to Section 27-2104.E. of the Zoning Ordinance of 2018, as amended, in order to place manufactured homes within the front yard setback in the MUR - Mixed-Use Residential zoning district / MHC - Manufactured Home Community zoning overlay district. At the January 12 hearing, the ZHB granted the variance, provided that the developer adhere to the Stormwater Management requirements and Erosion & Sedimentation controls.

David Fisher, 991 Compass Road (22-6-42.1A), is seeking a variance to Section 27-1411, for an extension to the time to complete the land development granted under ZH decision #2024-6 by 18 months. The variance was granted at the January 27, 2025 hearing. A decision is due within 45 days.

Amos & Lizzie Kauffman submitted a special exception and variance application for their property at 740 Park Road (Tax Parcel Number 22-7-87), in order to construct a self-storage facility on the premises in the A - Agricultural zoning district. On November 27, 2025, the applicant withdrew their application.

Syncarpha Honeybrook, LLC, is seeking variances in order to operate a solar generation facility on the Northwestern Chester County Municipal Authority (NCCMA) property at 37 Dampman Road (Tax Parcel Number 22-8-8.3-E). The variance for a second principal use on the property was granted with conditions at the Noember 25, 2024 hearing. 

Zoning Hearing #2024-11, variance application of Melvin Fisher, 281 Walnut Street (22-4-73.1), in order to do a lot line change taking one (1) acre from a legally non-conforming 9.5-acre lot and adding it to a 3-acre non-conforming lot (resulting in parcels of 8.5 & 4 acres, respectively) in the A - Agricultural zoning district. The variance was granted at the October 28th hearing. 

Zoning Hearing #2024-10, variance application of Omar Stoltzfus, 1225 Beaver Dam Rd (22-10-9), in order to subdivide 10 acres from a 57-acre property such that the new lot has a 6.3% impervious coverage rather than the 5% allowed in the A - Agricultural zoning district. The variance was granted at the October 28th hearing. 

John Kauffman, owner of 221 Suplee Road (TPN 22-7-1), requested a postponement of his hearing on September 16, 2024 and amended his application. He sought variances in order to renovate an accessory structure not previously used as an ADU into a short-term rental on a parcel less than 2 acres on his property in the MUR - Mixed-Use Residential zoning district. At the hearing on August 25, 2025, the variances were granted. The written decision is below.

Timothy Good of 933 Twin County Road (TPN 22-3-47) is seeking a variance to Section 1702.A. of the 2018 Zoning Ordinance, as amended, in order to establish an Airbnb use on the legally non-conforming property in A-Agricultural Zoning District. The variance was granted with conditions on September 16, 2024. 

Zoning Hearing #2024-7, variance application of Melvin S. King, 641 Compass Road, in order to establish a kennel use on a 2.1-acre property adjacent to other residential properties and within the permitted setbacks for said use. Hearing held August 19, 2024. The variances were denied.

Zoning Hearing #2026-6, application of David Fisher, 991 Compass Road, proposing to move a legally non-conforming use (at 941 Compass Road) to an adjacent non-conforming lot. The variances were granted with conditions. Written decision is below.

Zoning Hearing #2024-5, application of Brent Biddle, 65 Foxview Road, requesting a special exception in order to operate a Limited-Impact Home Occupation (landscaping business) from his property. The special exception was granted with conditions. The written decision is below.

Zoning Hearing #2024-4, application of David Stoltzfus, 1052 Park Road, variances to construct two greenhouse hoop structures within the rear yard setback and to conduct a recreational use on the property vis-a-vis King's Pumpkin Farm.

Zoning Hearing #2024-3, application by the Chester County Solid Waste Authority (CCSWA), for variances to Sections 27-1903.A.(2) and (4) in order to construct a Booster Pump station on less than the minimum lot area and within the side and rear setback lines at 5201 Horseshoe Pike. The variances were granted at the February 26 hearing. The written decision is below.

Zoning Hearing #2024-2, variance to Sections 27-1033.H.(10)(a) & 1703.A.(6) in order to operate a Rural Occupation on 15 acres in a building in excess of 5,000 square feet (5,384) and with impervious coverage over the permitted amount of 5% (5.5%) at 1225 Beaver Dam Rd. The variances were granted at the February 26 hearing. The written decision is below.

Zoning Hearing #2024-1, request for a special exception from 27-402.B.(5) to allow a cemetery with a maximum of two burial sites, and a variance from 27-1016.B.(1)(a) requiring land development for new cemeteries at 890 Cupola Rd. The special exception and variance were granted a the February 26 hearing. The written decision is below.

Zoning Hearing #2023-9 decision. Hearing held August 21, 2023.

Zoning Hearing #2023-8 decision. Hearing held August 21, 2023.

Zoning Hearing #2023-7 decision. Hearing held June 26, 2023.

Zoning Hearing #2023-6 decision. Hearing held June 26, 2023.

Zoning Hearing #2023-5 decision. Hearing held April 26, 2023.

Zoning Hearing #2023 decision. Hearing held February 20, 2023.

Zoning Hearing #2023-2 decision. Hearing held January 27, 2023.

Zoning hearing #2023-1 decision. Hearing held March 20, 2023.

Zoning Hearing #2022-5 decision. Hearing held May 16, 2022.

ZH #2022-3 decision. Hearings held March 14 and 28 and April 11 and 25. Decision rendered May 9. 

Zoning Hearing #2022-2 Decision. Hearing held March 14.

ZH #2022-1 Decision. Hearing held February 21.