Commissioners to decide timing of required improvements tied to parish center project
Hatfield Township Commissioners are expected to vote tonight on a key request tied to the proposed St. Maria Goretti parish center project — whether to allow the church to defer installation of sidewalks along Derstine and Cowpath roads.
The request, described by church representatives as a deferral rather than a waiver, has been a central issue in recent discussions. The project itself calls for demolition of a former convent building and construction of a new 9,021-square-foot parish center on the church’s campus, which already received zoning approval late last year.
Church officials have said the new facility is needed to accommodate a growing congregation and provide updated, accessible space for events and parish activities.
At prior meetings, the church’s team emphasized that while they are committed to installing sidewalks, doing so immediately could significantly delay construction. Engineers and attorneys noted that adding sidewalks could push the project over a one-acre disturbance threshold, triggering additional environmental permitting and potentially extending the timeline by months or more.
Township officials have expressed hesitation about granting deferrals, citing concerns over timing, enforcement and precedent, while also acknowledging the long-term need for pedestrian connectivity along the corridor.
The upcoming vote will determine whether the project can move forward without immediate sidewalk construction or if those improvements will be required upfront — a decision that could impact both the project timeline and overall cost. Church representatives have said the goal is to begin construction as soon as possible, with sidewalks to follow at a later stage.
Commissioners will meet an hour earlier at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, due to a scheduled public hearing from Pulte Homes.
