BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
LANCASTER Lancaster
County took the need for the
preservation of farmland directly
on Wednesday to the group of
people who are making and will
continue to make the grass-roots
decisions about continuing
progress toward the saving of this
basic natural resource
The occasion was an
Agricultural Zoning Workshop
attended by about 150 township
officials in the Farm and Home
Center. The officials primarily
included supervisors and planning
commission members from both
townships already having ag
zoning districts and those who may
be considering them.
Speakers during the evening
included officials from four
townships - three of which have ag
districts and one which is about to
adopt a zoning code with them.
Officials from townships with ag
districts were Aaron Stauffer, of
Ephrata Township; James Wit
myer, of Warwick Township; and
David Garber, of East Donegal
Township. Ed Goodhart, of Manor
Township, explained that a revised
zoning code with an ag district will
likely be acted upon within the next
couple of months.
Other officials included John
Ahlfeld, of the Lancaster County
Planning Commission; Tom
Johnston, of the Conservation
District staff; B. Kenneth Greider,
of the Pa. Township Supervisors
Association; Amos Funk, of the
Agricultural Preservation Board;
and Art Huber, of the Lancaster
County Association of Elected
Township Officials.
The program was moderated by
Lancaster County Commissioner
James Huber.
CllkJ A Ask About Ford Credit
rINANUIMU • At Lancaster Ford Tractor
Field Test A Ford Blue
Power Special
And Get This
Hefty
Pocket
Knife ford hip pocket powtß < *gf
FREE! ~ - 1
Wait till you feci new Hip Pocket Power on the Ford Blue
Power Specials, 60 to 86 PTO horsepower * They ve got
increased engine displacement for greater lugging power
than before Improved fuel pumps and controlled-flow
injectors give you smooth performance, easy starting
Optional front-wheel drive boosts traction and cuts tillage
time See us for details today
PRE-SEASON FINANCING
until Sept. 1,1981
on most Farm & Ind. Tractors
Tractors
Equipment
Township officials hear ag zoning plea
Huber set the tone for the
meeting by explaining that he
considers the preservation of
farmland in Lancaster County
second in priority only to the
protection of people.
“But we’re limited in what we
can do as county commissioners,”
Huber said
“The real secret to agricultural
zoning lies with you local officials -
- supervisors and members of
township planning commissions.
“For this is where the real
decisions must be made - at the
local level.”
Ahlfeld, as director of the county
planning commission, gave a
progress report on ag zoning in
Lancaster County.
Since just early-1980, the number
of municipalities with effective ag
zoning districts have mcreased,
from only nine to the present total
of 20, he said. Half of the townships
containing land earmarked for
farmland preservation by the
county now have these ag zoning
districts.
“Nothing is more basic to the
preservation of farmland than ag
district zoning,” Ahlfeld said.
“This is a land use issue and
zoning is the tool we have to control
land use.”
B. Kenneth Greider, of the Pa.
Township Supervisors Association,
reported on two recent legal and
legislative matters which could
have an effect on farmland
preservation in the state.
House Bill 143, which would give
townships the authority to create
ag preservation areas, has been
reported back into committee
because of eight amendments
added to the legislation.
Also, the Commonwealth Court
handed down a decision declaring
LANCASTER FORD TRACTOR, INC.
THE HOME OF THE RELIABLES
1655 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster, PA
Flory Mill Exit off Route 283 Phone: 717-569-7063
Lancaster County Commissioner James
Huber, standing at podium, opens workshop
on ag zoning districts. Other officials par
ticipating in program include,'from the left,.
David Garber, East Donegal Twp.; Art Huber,
Lancaster County Association of Elected
Township Officials; Amos Funk, Agricultural
zoning restrictions un
constitutional in Hopwell Town
ship, York County, which place
certain limitations on the amount
of residential development per
mitted in agricultural areas.
Kreider explained that decision
has just been handed down and will
likely be appealed. Also, it is too
early to determine how it might
affect other ag zoning efforts.
Aaron Stauffer, of Ephrata
Township, cited the zoning
regulations just adopted on April 7
which contain ag districts. The
regulations limit residential
development to one home on a
FORD LAWN AND
GARDEN TRACTOR
You’ll make quick work out of mowing, yard clean-up,
garden preparation and maintenance, or snow removal
from the comfortable cushioned seat on a new Ford Lawn
and Garden Tractor. Sit down and take the wheel of one of
five models 10-HP LGT-100,12-HP LGT-120 gear or
12-HP LGT-125,14-HP LGT-145 or 16-HP LGT-165 hydros
tatic In-line design minimizes vibration and helps give
you a smooth, stable ride And you won’t “noise about” all
that power because of rubber mountings, hood and side
panels lined with acoustical material, shielded muffler All
designed to give you the best seat around the house
That’s how Ford Blue thinks of you and your lawn and
garden chores 1
THE GREAT FORD
MOWER GIVEAWAY
Free Mower with the purchase of
a Ford Lawn or Lawn & Garden
Tractor
Preservation Board; B. Kenneth, Greider, Pa.
Township Supervisors Association; John
Ahlfeld, Lancaster County Planning Com- /
mission; Ed Goodhart, Manor Twp.; Aaron'
Stauffer, Ephrata Twp. and Tom Johnston,
Conservation District.
farm in 25 years for either the
retiring owner or people involved
in the farming operation. A
restriction is also placed on the
deed recognizing the right to farm
to protect against any nuisance
complaints.
Ed Goodhart, of Manor Town
ship, traced the process involved in
establishing an ag district which is
contained in the regulations which
will be acted upon in the near
future.'
“Involve as many people as
possible,” he stressed, “par
ticularly the fanners,”
David Garber, member of the
AND FORD CREDIT FINANCING
FOR QUALIFIED BUYERS
If you’re considering a new tractor or equip
ment BUT are concerned about the availability of
financing, better see us! We have BOTH .. new
Ford tractors and equipment AND the financing
you need! Arranged through Ford Credit.
East Donegal Planning Com
mission and a poultry,
expressed his position:
“Farming is a way of life. We
love it and want to protect it.”
He stressed the need for
reasonable regulations, such as
setback requirements for livestock
and poultry operations which will
permit fanning to continue on the
limited agricultural- tracts
available.
Witmyer outlined Warwick
Township’s efforts which
established an ag district in 1979.
There has been no subdivision in
NEB) NEW
EQUPMBFT
FINANCING?
We’ve got the
EQUIPMENT
* '
Ford Motor
Credit
Company
t/ur</
\ *
(Turn to Page A3l)
I