801 Riverton, Bangor, PA 18013

Agricultural Perservation District

To provide for moderate density development opportunities on properties less than 12 acres in area and in areas that do not comprise prime agricultural lands; To protect and promote the continuation of agriculture, particularly in areas with prime agricultural lands, consistent with the Governor's Executive Order 2003-2 dated March 20, 2003; To implement and support the purposes and objectives authorized and directed by the Agricultural Land Preservation Policy as established by the Governor's Executive Order 4 Pa. Code 7.301 – 7.307; To implement policies of Future LV: The Regional Plan, which emphasizes the need for effective growth management to preserve farmland of high preservation value; To strengthen and preserve strong agricultural activity to facilitate farming as a viable component of the local economy; To promote agricultural land uses and activities and other uses and activities which act in direct support of agriculture; To protect and stabilize the essential characteristics of areas in the Agricultural District, to minimize conflicting land uses detrimental to agricultural enterprises, and to limit development which requires roads, highways, infrastructure, municipal services, and other public facilities in excess of those required by agricultural uses; To maintain the land resource base, that is, agricultural parcels or farms in sizes which will permit efficient, profitable agricultural operations. In this regard, the Board of Supervisors recognizes that large farmland tracts are desirable because the size of farmland tracts is directly related to the economic viability of farming operations with respect to use of modem machinery, soil conservation programs and the ability to recycle manure and other agricultural by-products. The Board of Supervisors also recognizes, however, that not all farming operations need to be conducted on a large scale with the use of significant machinery and other efficiencies and believes that there should be a place for smaller farmettes to provide an opportunity for more residents to participate in the agricultural base of this community. For Lower Mount Bethel, a minimum of 10 acres is the appropriate size for such farmettes based upon factors which include, without limitation