705 Old Mill Rd, Abbottstown, PA 17301

Agricultural Preservation District

Protect and stabilize general agriculture as an ongoing economic activity in the Hamilton Township area by encouraging those land uses and activities which are agricultural in nature or act in direct support thereof. Therefore, owners, occupants and users of property within the Agricultural Preservation District should be prepared to accept impacts associated with normal farming practices and agricultural operations and are hereby put on official notice that Section 4 of Act 133 of 1982, known as the Right to Farm Law, may bar them from obtaining a legal judgment against such agricultural operations. Discourage development from occurring on productive farmlands, including those designated as prime or important, and those which are conducive to high crop yields. Protect agriculture from incompatible uses which may also interfere with normal and customary agricultural practices within that zone. Minimize the amount of land consumed for nonagricultural purposes by encouraging nonagricultural development to occur on small parcels. Provide for the continuation of agribusiness operations within appropriate areas of Hamilton Township by requiring appropriate design standards for agribusiness operations and by requiring adequate setbacks between agribusiness and residential uses. Retain the core area of farmland in central Hamilton Township which strongly contributes to the rural character of the Township. Provide for the development of appropriate agri-tourism enterprises that would ensure that the Township remains a unique and competitive destination in the future by interpreting the agricultural heritage of the Township and by creating a distinctly Adams County experience.