160 Silver Mine Rd, Conestoga, PA 17516

Agricultural District

In the interest of public health, safety, and welfare, the Agricultural District is further designed and intended to accomplish the following: Protect and stabilize agriculture in areas of productive soils as an on-going, viable, major component of the economy of the Township.; Permit only those land uses and activities which are agricultural in nature or incidental thereto.; Encourage the preservation of the most productive farmland within the Township as a valuable resource which is lost and not reclaimable once it is developed for any purpose other than agriculture by limiting uses within the Agricultural District, limiting some uses permitted within the Agricultural District to certain soil classifications, and insuring that farms remain of sufficient size to be profitable for farming by limiting the number of lots which may be created, limiting the maximum size of residential lots, and imposing a minimum lot size on farms to be created which is sufficient to insure viability.; Prevent adverse effects resulting from the encroachment and mixing of residential and other incompatible development, with agricultural uses. For the farmer, such mixing would cause increased traffic on the roads used to move farm machinery and livestock; additional litter, which is a nuisance to crop farming and a danger to livestock; damage and loss of crops and livestock from theft, mischief, or trespass; and com-plaints about odors, noise, dust, barbed wire or electric fencing, night operations, and other items which are normal often uncontrollable aspects of farming. For the residential or commercial occupant, farm operations can cause a nuisance and health and safety hazards as well as the possible contamination of well water by agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, and animal waste.; Assure the ready availability of agricultural products to the residents of the Township and region.