Farmland in Lancaster County can be preserved when a farmer sells a conservation easement (aka "development rights") to a preservation program. An easement is a permanent attachment to a deed that affects the owner's rights. Farmers, in effect, sell right to develop their farms. This practice started in the 1980s to slow the rate at which farmland is lost to development.
In Lancaster, there are two programs that preserve farmland. The State Bureau of Farmland Preservation working through the State-funded Ag Preserve Board and the Lancaster Farmland Trust. Lancaster Farmland Trust is funded by both private and public sources. It was founded in order to reach out to Amish and Mennonite farmers who were unwilling to work with the government.
An Agricultural Security Area (ASA) is a related but slightly different concept. You may have read about ASAs in the news recently because East Lampeter Township is in a dispute with some farmers about the creation of an agricultural security zone. An ASA restricts a township's ability to pass ordinances that farmers may be a nuisance to farmers. There is some speculation that East Lampeter Township's opposition to the ASA relates to plans for a Route 23 bypass. If you have more information about this dispute, please send me an email or give me a call.
In any case, here's a map that shows the importance of farm preservation in Lancaster County. To learn more, follow some of the links I've included above or contact the Ag Preserve Board or Lancaster Farmland Trust.
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My name is Dean Rock. I earn my living as a realtor in Lancaster PA, but this is not a sales-oriented website. This project stems from my long-standing interest in writing, photography and historic Lancaster homes. I value the Lancaster Life because it connects me to people all over Lancaster County who share my interests and concerns. Please contribute your thoughts and photos.
