A26-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 29. 2003 ,
• L ( \ it r \t' t « > I l r — 1 r- ' > 1 '
i
Bill Could Have Jeopardized Farmland Preservation
(Continued from Page A 1)
bill are pleased with the result.
“Grange is extremely pleased
that there was an overwhelming
vote to preserve farmland in
Pennsylvania,” said Brenda
Shambaugh, legislative director
for Pennsylvania State Grange.
“The precedent set, once an agri
culture restriction is in place, it
remains intact. We (the Grange)
would like to thank the legisla
tors who voted to defeat this leg
islation and support agriculture
in Pennsylvania.”
However, Shambaugh notes
that this bill could be reconsid
ered at a later date, because a re
consideration vote was taken and
passed.
“Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
appreciates the vote, but we also
know the legislation may be
brought back for more considera
tion soon,” said Guy Donaldson,
president of Pennsylvania Farm
Bureau.
Donaldson noted, “We recog
nize that all members of the
House are concerned about the
preservation of farmland in the
commonwealth. In this instance,
some have been tempted to stray
from their convictions. Because
passage of the legislation would
set harmful precedents for farm
land preservation in Pennsylva
nia, we’re hopeful that our law
makers will ultimately give this
This 22-acre property pictured from Jackson Run road in front of the Warren
State Hospital Complex is at the heart of Pennsylvania’s farmland preservation con
troversy. House Bill 66, which was defeated Tuesday in the House of Representa
tives, proposed to remove agriculture restrictions on the property for commercial
development.
Lancaster
Forming's
Clossifitd Ads
Got Results!
CAU. TODAY and get a TRIPLE PLAY on the best
value and pre-season offer In hey equipment.
Offer valla until January 31,20 m.
Soo your loeol dialer for dotalla, forma i conditions.
tut#a»cnritt appro* by Wend* AcogtannUX WarmaarCmW man* Iw right to Inlarpnt nwtty or caned Mai program* at anytkrw without
nafcaoroMgatton VERMEER and VfmwtiogD in rtgMrtdtraritmarlaalVtmwM Manufacturing Co In Iht US and/or othtr countdit.
© 2003 Vimiaar Manufacturing Co All Higittt NtHrvtd
legislation a proper burial.”
The Pennsylvania Farm Bu
reau and Pennsylvania State
Grange stepped up their grass
roots efforts to defeat this bill in
the days before its vote in the
House.
Both organizations plan to
monitor the status of the bill.
If passed, the bill could set pre
cident not only for state-owned
farmland, but also for Pennsylva
nia’s farmland preservation pro
grams.
“We think it is a dangerous
precedent issue,” said Don
aldson. “If this happens, what
does it do to our farmland preser
vation program?”
One component of the bill was
the permitting the transfer of the
agricultural restrictions on the 22
acres to a 46-acre site in Elk
Township. Donaldson expressed
concerns, that, if allowed, the bill
could impact agricultural land
preservation programs, opening
the door for ag restriction move
ments.
“We are very pleased that the
House has voted to maintain the
integrity of the Ag Land Preser
vation program,” said State
Grange Master Betsy Huber.
“Permanently preserved land
should be just that, permanent,
with no transfer of the easement
permitted without a very impor
tant reason for the public good.
Any weakening of the program
The annual Penn State Hybrid Reports are part .
and parcel of the Jan. 31 issue of Corn talk in \|||m
Lancaster Farming. Also scheduled is a feature from a
Columbia County 5-Acre Corn Club winner, silage
reports, meeting updates, and a calendar of crop growing
and management events.
would have a negative effect on
future covenants.”
Heidi Schellenger, executive
director of Lancaster Farmland
Trust (LFT), noted that LFT has
been remaining aware of the bill’s
activity because of the impact it
could have on easements.
“We need to maintain the
sanctity of an easement,” said
Schellenger, stressing that an
easement “is a perpetual
promise” to protect farmland.
House Bill 66 was introduced
at the beginning of the imple
mentation of Warren County : s
comprehensive plan. The plan
was developed to generate eco
nomic growth for the county.
According House Bill 66, War-
ren County is facing sever
al economic challenges,
such as an unemployment
rate of 19 percent, decreas
ing county population, and
a high percentage of coun
ty lands owned by the state
or federal government,
which limits the county tax
base.
However, as the defeat
of House Bill 66 will forbid
the development of the ag
riculture lands, other op
tions are available for de
velopers in Warren
County.
One option, a brownfield
located to the west of War-
TIMETOBUYI
purchase before 12/31/03
/also be qualified to
10% (or up to $lOO,OOO of
vent purchased in 20031)*
tionSactton ITSDundttton
ti.cs <kkW In thiJax RiM
KHittionAclo(2oo3
Vernier
www.¥Brmerag.com * ▼
Vormoor Manufacturing Co.
Polio, U 50312
800-370-3859
0% finance and NO PAYMENTS
for 12 months...or 0% finance for i onanllaini fliialitu
24 months on many Badger products WSgCHUiHiy Mud Illy
it Products!
www.badgerfarmequipment.com
Annville Everett
BHM Farm Equlpmeht C. Paul Ford & Son,
717-867-2211 Inc.
814-652-0095
ren, is a possibility for develop
ment.
Formerly a manufacturing fa
cility, located on Rt. 6, brown
field owner Cindy Morrison
stresses her family is actively
looking to revitalize it. Calling
the brownfield “blighted,” Mor
rison believes that a proposed
Wal-Mart would help to revital
ize the area.
Vacant since 1995, the proper
ty is home to three manufactur
ing plants. Working with Cam
bridges Services, Morrison is
“expecting a contact from Wal-
Mart,” with the defeat of House
Bill 66.
Warren County Commission
er-elect David Bauer said he does
They all ran better with
genuine Badger parts.
0%
CFS Lancaster D Wa * s . on A to , w D n
717-243-4419 Show-Ease Stall Co. Rovßnda j ß *0 & Barn
717-299-2536
570-538-9564
Chambersburg
CFS Oley
717-264-3533 Piksville Equipment
610-987-6277
not know what the outgoing
Warren County Board of Com
missioners will do next in react
ion to the bill’s defeat. However,
Bauer said, “No matter what
happens, the new board has to
handle the fallout.”
Bauer noted that Warren
County does not have a county
farmland preservation program.
He is confident that, as he and
the new commissioner board
takes office on Jan. 5, it will
change.
“Warren County will be the
next county to join the state
farmland conservation program.
It’s about time we looked at how
we use our natural resources.”
i
• ’•
Troy
Fallbrook Fabrication
570-297-3802