D2-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 19, 2003
CAMPBELLTOWN (Leba
non Co.) Revised A-
Agricultural Zone. Revised RR-
Rural Residential Zone.
Expanded Home Occupation
Options. These three areas re
flect a few of the revisions to the
regulations of land use in South
Londonderry Township when
the Board of Supervisors passed
the revised Zoning Ordinance at
the February meeting. The ordi
nance, the culmination of
months of research, revisions,
Options For Disposing Of Ag Plastics
GREEN BAY, Wis. The
use of plastics for storing forages
is a fairly new phenomenon.
While the plastics used to cover
forages are necessary to lower
dry matter losses in horizontal
storage methods, the disposal of
the plastic presents a challenge.
At present there are few viable
methods available for safe dis
posal.
Among these options are open
burning on-site. According to
Penn State publications, many
states and municipalities are be
ginning to outlaw this practice.
Regardless of whether the prac
tice is legal in any area. It is
simply dangerous.
According to Craig Saxe, Uni
versity Wisconsin Extension,
often the burning of plastics re
sults in incomplete combustion.
This results in parts of the plas
tic liquefying only to re-solidify
elsewhere, such as the lungs.
When the results of plastic inha
lation are unknown, it is best to
avoid this procedure altogether.
Another option is to bury or
dump the plastics on-site. This is
not a viable option. Especially as
banks and realties begin looking
at the farm dump as a liability.
The cost of clean up can be over
whelming.
CONSTRUCTION
U|S EQUIPMENT
Revised Zoning Ordinance Preps Township For Future
and review, was prepared by the
Township’s Planning Commis
sion chaired by Bill Pauza. The
Board of Supervisors conducted
its final public review meeting at
6:30 p.m. prior to adopting the
ordinance.
According to Township Board
of Supervisors Chairman Phil
Rothermel, the Zoning Ordi
nance is the first of several ordi
nances that will be revised,
reviewed and adopted over the
next few months and is a natural
Option 3 is to recycle the plas
tics. There are several restric
tions here. Recyclers require
that different types of plastic be
kept separately. Many require
large truckloads to be shipped at
a time. A common range re
quired is 30,000 to 40,000
pounds. Most recyclers also re
quire the plastics be baled and to
be clean of general dirt and
water.
Use a waste to energy facility.
If this is available locally, it is a
great method. The modern in
cinerator is capable of taking
material such as agricultural
plastics and converting them to
electricity. These facilities often
attain over 99.9 percent combus-
progression in the planning pro
cess starting with the Compre
hensive Plan implemented in
June 2001.
“The Comprehensive Plan
provides the goals and objectives
for guiding the growth and pres
ervation of our township,” said
Chairman Rothermel. “This
forms the basis for creating the
Zoning Ordinance, which regu
lates the uses of land, is to assure
the health, safety, and general
welfare of property owners
tion. The emissions on these fa
cilities are regulated and
extremely clean.
The fifth and final option
today is use a sanitary landfill.
While this can be rather expen
sive, it is certainly a better
option than burning or burying
plastics on-site. Landfills are
sealed top and bottom to mini
mize pollution.
As pollution and energy
shortages become a greater con
cern, there will likely be more
and better solutions to the prob
lems presented by agricultural
plastics. However, until then we
must continue to handle them in
as safe of a method as possible.
based on these goals and objec
tives.”
Both Rothermel and Rugh
Henderson, a member of both
the planning commission and
the board, agree ‘clustering’ and
‘preservation’ are key words in
the revised Zoning Ordinance.
The concept of clustering in Ag
ricultural and Rural Residential
Zoning will assist to limit sprawl
by permitting a few more lots on
i given property in exchange for
keeping them together, on less
lesirable soils and away from
he roads. The document also
:reates a General Commercial
Zone to connect new develop
ment areas and the new connec
tor road in Campbelltown, as
well as a new Industrial/
Commercial Zone to encourage
economic development.
“The revised Zoning Ordi
nance protects our natural fea
tures such as streams,
woodlands, and wetlands with
the creation of a new Conserva
tion Zone,” added Henderson.
“Because more of our residents
are working out of their homes,
in most cases through comput
ers and the Internet, we ex
panded the Home Occupation
options.”
Kays reminds business
owners and residents to talk to
the zoning office first once a
parcel of land is found. The
office will refer to the Zoning
map to see what the allowed
uses are and will review the
Zoning Ordinance. Should the
intended use not be permitted
there are a few options: revise
the plans, ask for a hearing
before the zoning hearing board,
or look for another parcel of
land.
South Londonderry Township
that abuts Dauphin County to
the west and Lancaster County
to the South is faced with in
tense development pressure.
“As we grow, it costs more in
services than residential housing
generates in tax revenues. It is
important to attract business to
stabilize our tax base,” added
Chairman Rothermcl. “To
achieve all the goals of the Com
prehensive the Zoning Ordi
nance, it is the desire of the
Board of Supervisors to be flexi
ble. We invite developers and
engineers to bring innovative
and imaginative ideas in their
designs—to help us meet the ob
jectives of our overall plan for
South Londonderry Township.”