36 —Lancaster Farming. Saturday, Oct 19. 1974 Property Jt J (Continued Fro* Past 1| they dont want that right interfered with. James Humphreville, a Lancaster geologist and past president of the Conestoga Valley Association, asked Herr bow a fanner’s in dividual property right* - his right to sell his land if be wants to - can be balanced against public pressure for open apace preservation. “That is the. crux of the problem/* Kerr replied. “And I cant answer it. Fanners do feel a great deal of attachment to their land. They want to stay on it. They simply dont want others to tell them what to do with their security.” Herr is chairman of the vo ag department at Garden Spot High School and lives on a small farm in Narvon. Other panelists were Amos Funk, hfiUersvOle vegetable CENTRAL TRACTOR <T BUCK TRACTOR PULLS PULL 1974 SEASON FREE Friday and Saturday Buck Tractor Pulls FARM TRACTOR PULL TOYS TO BE GIVEN AWAY SEE THIS TRACTOR ON DISPLAY ALONG WITH OTHER MODIFIED TRACTORS _ AT CENTRAL TRACTOR PA producer and well-known conservationist, John R. Ah* feld, chairman of the Lan caster County Planning Commission, and John W. Aungst, Jr., president of the niistoric Preservation Trust of Lancaster County. The principal speaker for the evening was Cornelius W. Heine, chief of the historic and architectural surveys for the Department of Interior’s National Park Service. Heine spoke at length about the natural beauty and agricultural wealth of Lancaster County, and said that at least two similar areas in the country have been recognized by the Department of Interior as areas eminently worthy of preservation. Heine praised Lancaster County’s farmers for their stewardship of the CENTRAL TRACTOR- FEATURING: THE BUCK CHAMPIONSHIP PULL OFF FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCT. 25-26 7:30 P.M. at the REGISTER MONDAY, OCT. 21$t thru WED., OCT. 23rd FOR FREE TICKETS TO THE FRI., OCT. 25 TRACTOR PULLS DRAWING TO BE HELD THURS., OCT. 24 - 9:00 AM. AT CENTRAL 1590 MANHEIM PIKE OPEN 8 to 5 MONDAY - SATURDAY LL HARVEST SPECIALS ALL WEEK OCT 21 ,hru 26 iTE: ADVANCE TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT CENTRAL TRA toll, and concluded by saying, “America’s survival depends on a atrong agricultural system. People who work in government must be made to realise that fanning is Just as important • maybe more so - than in* dustrial expansion.” Amos Funk, in his remarks, pointed out that the county has an area of 604,000 acres, 430,000 of which is in farmland. “But we’re losing this farmland at the rate of about 8000 acres a year. In 1973, 3300 acres were developed, and another 4500 acres were bought by speculators who took that land out of production.” Funk noted that this could be an especially tragic loss in Lancaster County, which accounts for 17 percent of Pennsylvania’s farm production. “We can do so well here because 76 percent of our land is in Class 1,2 or 3 farmland. The other counties in the state only average 38 percent. Sure, we know we’re going to get more people in die county, and TRACTOR thay have to aomawhera. But wo have a lot of level land suitable (or development that isn’t good for farming. That’s where we ought to be developing.” John Ahlfeld told the audience that the Lancaster County Planning Com* mission was working on a comprehensive land use plan for the county, and that one of the objectives of the plan was the preservation of agricultural land. He agreed with Funk that there was ample room for development without encroaching on top quality farmland. “We can guide development away from the areas that should stay in farms or open space. If there are no sewers or highway interchanges in open areas, development pressures are decreased. We can use tax relief measures to keep farmers on the land We can buy development rights. And we can create historical districts in agricultural areas. We don’t have to sit back and watch our farms and open space PARTS CO. PHONE 569-0111 disappear.” After the meeting, Paul Pass, chairman of the Lancaster County Com missioners, told Lancaster Fanning that the job of preserving the county’s rural character was a Job that needed the cooperation of the commissioners, the county planning commission and all the municipalities within the county. “As commissioners,” he said, “we’re interested in preserving open space, and that’s one of the things we’re doing with the county park. We might also consider buying property rights. We can’t do anything with tax easements, though, because that would amount to preferential assessment, and that is illegal under present Pennsylvania law.” Paes noted that money for purchasing development rights could come from federal revenue sharing funds. A farmer who sells his development rights to a government body would normally guarantee not to FFA (Continued Fro* Pat* M Gold emblem honors wait to Jim Southard, Westfield in the livestock Judging competition with bronse honors going to Jay Bomgardner of AnnviUe. In the ag mechanization judging medal honors went to James Weter, Knox, with Mark Meyers of Derry and John Swartzentruber of Pottstown receiving silver medals. sell his land for develop ment. The land could, however, still be sold for fanning. For giving up his right to sell for development, the farmer would normally be compensated by a payment equal to the dif ference between the value of his land as farmland, and the potential value for development. TRY A CLASSIFIED
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