The Doylestown Township Planning Commission voted Dec. 17 to support — but not formally recommend — a controversial proposal by Zaveta Custom Homes to redevelop the Bucks County Historical Society’s Hart Tract along Easton Road, with much of the discussion centered on the future of the site’s historic house and barn.
According to the Bucks County Herald, developer Richard Zaveta told commissioners his intent was to restore both structures, describing the barn as “very special” and envisioning it as a small residence, while renovating the house “in the spirit of Mr. Hart” and adding a garage.
Zaveta argued that much of the home’s existing interior dated to mid-20th-century alterations and said its historic value had been overstated, while emphasizing that preservation of the house and barn was central to his plan, per the article.
The commission stopped short of endorsing a zoning change needed for the broader townhouse development, citing concerns about precedent, but unanimously agreed to signal support for the overall concept after Zaveta’s attorney warned the project could be abandoned without it, according to the article.
Bucks County Historical Society CEO Kyle McKoy backed the proposal, saying the organization’s focus is on Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle and that selling the Hart Tract allows resources to be reallocated, while restoration of the house would be consistent with the site’s legacy.
The commission is set to revisit the matter Jan. 28, 2026, before any final decision moves to township supervisors.
The tract is bounded by Route 202, South Main Street, Steeplechase Drive, Birdsong Way, and Foxchase Lane.
