Montgomery County · Hatfield Township · MCPC #25-0177-001
St. Maria Goretti Parish Center
1601 Derstine Road, Hatfield Township, PA · 9,021 sq ft non-residential, institutional · 15.98 acres
About this project
Saint Maria Goretti Parish is proposing a new two-story parish center building at 1601 Derstine Road in Hatfield Township, about 9,000 square feet on roughly 0.88 acres of its 15.98-acre property. An existing convent building on the site would be demolished to make room for it. Public water and sewer already serve the location.
County planning commission: Supports, with comments
Issues raised: combined preliminary and final plan waiver, stormwater BMP designed without infiltration (0.0 rate), street tree planting waiver, net-land-area planting waiver
- Applicant
- Saint Maria Goretti Parish
- Engineer / rep.
- Gilmore & Associates
- Zoning
- ER and RA-1
- Tax parcel
- 35-00-02191-00-6
- Cross street
- Cowpath Rd & Derstine Rd
- Approvals needed
- waiver: combined preliminary and final land development plan (§250-9.B.(5)), waiver: stormwater infiltration requirement (§242-14.B.(3)), waiver: street tree planting along existing street (§250-38.B.(1)), waiver: planting based on net land area (§250-38.C.(2))
- Utilities
- public water, public sewer
- Demolition
- Existing convent building
Filing history
- 2025-08-28 · MCPC #25-0177-001 · Land Dev Plan, Prelim Plan · 9,021 sq ft
County review letters
2025-08-28 · HATFT 25-0177-001r.pdf
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
Saint Maria Goretti Parish plans a new two-story parish center at its campus at 1601 Derstine Road. County records describe a building of about 9,000 square feet on roughly 0.88 acres of the parish's 15.98-acre property. An existing convent building would be torn down to make room. Public water and sewer already serve the site.
The parish's own materials describe the center as a space for worship, social gatherings and service. They give a larger figure of about 15,500 square feet, so the final size may differ from the county filing. The same materials describe a fundraising campaign and a construction period of roughly 14 months, beginning with demolition of the convent. The center is meant to open before the end of 2028. No news coverage of opposition was found.
What it could mean nearby
- The building would replace an existing convent on a campus that already has public water and sewer, so no new utility extensions are indicated.
- Parish meeting notes mention a township decision to defer a sidewalk requirement along Derstine and Cowpath Roads, so sidewalk improvements there may come later.
- The building covers a small part of a 15.98-acre property, so most of the site's open land would stay as it is.
- Construction activity and demolition would be temporary and focused on the church campus; no traffic study was found.
Where it stands
Parish meeting notes from May 2026 say the land development process with the township is complete, and the parish is raising funds before construction. Construction would usually follow once funding is in place and building permits are issued.
- Dec 2028 Target for opening the new center, before the end of 2028, according to the parish.
- May 2026 Parish council notes say the township approved a sidewalk deferral and the land development process is complete.
- Aug 28, 2025 Latest county planning filing for the project.
Want to weigh in? The Hatfield Township Board of Commissioners handled the land development approval, and residents can raise questions at its public meetings or through the township office. The township's approval process appears to be complete.
Who's behind it
Saint Maria Goretti Parish · A Catholic parish in Hatfield, working with the engineering firm Gilmore & Associates on the site plans.
Around the web
- Minutes May 12 2026Saint Maria Goretti Parish · May 12, 2026Parish council notes report the township's sidewalk deferral and completion of the land development process.
- St. Maria Goretti Parish Dreaming Big, Raising Funds for New Parish CenterCatholicPhilly (posted by the parish)Describes the fundraising, the roughly 14-month construction plan starting with convent demolition, and the target opening before the end of 2028.
Planning terms explained
- Land development
- The township's formal review of a plan to build or expand on a property, covering things like layout, drainage and access.
- Deferral
- A decision to postpone a requirement, such as building a sidewalk, to a later time.
- Institutional use
- A site used by a church, school or similar organization rather than for homes or shops.
- Demolition
- Tearing down an existing building, here the convent, before new construction starts.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $3.2M
- ~45 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~22 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)
- ~1.0 acres of site work (grading, stormwater, landscaping)
- Demolition of existing convent building
- Stormwater BMP managing runoff volume without infiltration
- Related utilities, stormwater management and landscape work
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