Historical Commission

Meetings

  • 7 pm on the first Tuesday of each month.
  • View the calendar to see the next meeting.

Members

  • Bart Van Valkenburgh - Chair
  • Warren Claytor -  Vice Chair
  • Marie Quinn Johnson - Secretary
  • Dave Hopkins
  • Terry Kile


  • Bob Lange
  • Greg Prichard
  • Sharon Sukonick
  • Jody Vandergrift

Responsibilities

Powers and Duties

 § 139-163. Powers and duties of the Historical Commission as identified in the Willistown Township Code under Chapter 139 Article XXIX, Historic Preservation, are as follows: Functions and duties. In accordance with the purposes of this article, the Commission shall have the following functions and duties: (1) Maintain a system for the survey, inventory and photographic documentation of historic buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts in Willistown. (2) Conduct research on and nominate significant resources to the National Register of Historic Places and any other appropriate lists or programs, including the Act 167 District process administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau for Historic Preservation, in Harrisburg. (3) Advise the Zoning Officer and Board of Supervisors on the issuance of demolition permits for historic resources, as set forth in § 139-164. (4) Review and comment on subdivision or land development applications that affect historic resources, in accordance with the requirements and procedures of the Willistown Code of Ordinances, including the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 139), the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (Chapter 123) and the Environmental Protection Ordinance (Chapter 73). (5) Make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors concerning revisions, updates or corrections to the Historic Resources Inventory. (6) Maintain an updated list that clearly identifies buildings, sites, structures, objects and districts and their respective classifications on the Historic Resources Inventory. (7) Advise the Board of Supervisors or Zoning Hearing Board on all requests for conditional uses, special exceptions, or variances affecting historic resources. (8) Function as an Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) Subcommittee for historic districts in Willistown, which may be certified by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in accordance with Pennsylvania Act 167. (9) Review of applications for the rehabilitation, enlargement or alteration of historic resources for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings as required herein. [Amended 12-17-2001 by Ord. No. 6-2001] (10) Photographically document ongoing changes to the physical landscape throughout the Township. Perform any other lawful activities which shall be deemed necessary to further the purpose of this article.

Members: 9 (2 optional)
Term of Office: 5 years
Appointment Process: Appointed by the Board of Supervisors

Overview

For an application to be considered for a Historical Commission meeting agenda, all documents must be received by the Meeting Submission Deadline for the corresponding meeting. Please see the schedule in the table below.

HC Meeting Dates Meeting Submission Deadlines
January 6, 2026 December 22, 2025
February 3, 2026 January 19, 2026
March 3, 2026 February 16, 2026
April 7, 2026 March 23, 2026
May 5, 2026 April 20, 2026
June 2, 2026 May 18, 2026
July 7, 2026 June 22, 2026
August 4, 2026 July 20, 2026
September 1, 2026 August 17, 2026
October 6, 2026 September 21, 2026
November 5, 2026 October 19, 2026
December 1, 2026 November 16, 2026

Agendas and Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View All Minutes and Agendas