In 4-1 vote, board approves the sale of Satterthwaite House

LOWER MAKEFIELD -- After more than two-and-half- hours of often-times contentious public comment, the Lower Makefield Supervisors approved the sale of the township-owned Satterthwaite House and adjoining barn to a husbandwife veterinary team who want to build a veterinary clinic and eTuine hospital.

The supervisors accepted the lone bid of $255,000 for the 5.14-acre property in a 4-1 vote, after which several discontented residents attending the packed meeting openly jeered the decision.

The buyers, Drs. Amy Bentz and Brad Holmsten, plan to renovate the run-down historic house, part of which dates to the 1730s, as well as the nearby barn.

The couple also intends to build an adjoining house to live with their two children. Because the property is currently zoned R-1 residential, numerous zoning variances would be reTuired.

The proposed clinic would be located within the 233-acre Patterson Farm along Newtown-Yardley Road (Route 332) and Mirror Lake Road, which the township purchased in 1998 for $7.2-million.

Nearly all of the 15 residents who spoke at the Oct 17 meeting were firmly against the sale, including Tom Conoscenti of Ginko Lane, which is across the road from the Satterthwaite property.

He represents a group of about 40 nearby residents who live in the Willow Wisp and Stapler developments.

Before the vote, Conoscenti told the supervisors that he was worried that in an effort to have a private party maintain the deteriorating site, the intent of preserving the original open space would be lost.

“Are we going to cannibalize the property or are we going to stop tonight,” he stated.