The Doylestown Township Zoning Hearing Board meeting Monday evening involved more than a proposal to turn Highland Farms, 70 E. Road, into a museum and education center.
An hour into the hearing, township Manager Stephanie Mason announced the meeting was in lock down due to suspected mass murderer Bradley Stone's alleged presence in the immediate area.
Under the direction of the Doylestown Township Police Department, all doors at the municipal building were locked, resulting in frantic chatter, phone calls and text messages and a display of concern among the roughly 100 meeting attendees.
"It is a real event that is occurring," zoning board Chairman W. Andrew McPherson told the audience.
After a five minute recess, the hearing continued with testimony and the presentation of evidence.
Highland Farms is the former home of Oscar Hammerstein, regarded as one of the most influential writers of opera lyrics of American theater. He passed away Aug. 23, 1960 in Doylestown.
Christine Cole is the current owner of the property. She purchased the property as a bed and breakfast in February 2007.
Cole filed an application with the zoning board requesting the property be used as a private organization and community center. Her application seeks a number of requests including allowing more than one building on the property, 89 automobile spaces and eight bus spaces and allowing a parking lot closer than 25 feet to a building.
Attorney John VanLuvanee of Eastburn & Gray, PC, Doylestown, represented William Hammerstein, grandson of Oscar Hammerstein, at the hearing.
According to William Hammerstein, the home and barn would be converted into a museum and theater. The farm, he said, made a big impact on him as a young adult.
He said a few years ago he began thinking about strategies to preserve the home and barn.
"That was four years ago and it has consumed my thoughts," he said.
William Hammerstein said his primary mission is to preserve the barn and home in memory of Oscar Hammerstein.
"My grandfather loved Highland Farms so much," he said. "It's where he chose to spend the final days of his life."
If the proposal is approved and moves forward, it would result in the Oscar Hammerstein Museum & Theatre Education Center.
Those who visit the premises would be shown a short film of Oscar Hammerstein's life. The visitor would then be given a tour of the house.
"The house tour will be in the context of a show," William Hammerstein said.
There also would be a number of interactive exhibits available on Oscar Hammerstein's life.
The three-floor theater, William Hammerstein said, is a necessity.
"He's Oscar Hammerstein so we need a theater," he said.
The theater would seat 400 people.
McPherson questioned William Hammerstein on the specific height of the theater. William Hammerstein said he did not have exact measurements, but he did note the theater would be lower than the barn.
"I'm not comfortable with conceptualizations," McPherson said. "I want to know what your exact dimensions are."
William Hammerstein said he would ensure noise emanating from the premises does not become a persistent, unbearable issue.
"We will put policies in place," he told the zoning board.
Eighty-nine automobile parking spaces and eight bus spaces instead of the original 128 automobile spaces have been requested.
The bus spaces would better facilitate student visits to the museum.
"This is a story that kids need to hear," William Hammerstein said. "This is a place that could be an inspiration to school kids."
Cole also provided testimony. She said her purpose in purchasing the property was to ensure the home was restored. Cole told the board she invested $400,000 of her own money into the restoration.
"The structure of the barn is structurally sound to the point it's worth saving," she said.
An agreement of sale currently exists for the purchase of the property.
According to Jeffrey Marshall, president of Heritage Conservancy, Doylestown, Highland Farms is listed as a historic property.
He told the zoning board the property has value.
"With care and effort, it can be restored," he said.
An inground swimming pool also exists on the property, which William Hammerstein said he wants to preserve due to its historic nature.
The hearing concluded shortly after 9:30 p.m.
The remainder of the hearing will resume 7 p.m. Jan. 12.
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