5573 Emmaus Rd, Emmaus, PA 18049

Agricultural Conservation District

In accordance with the objectives of the Southwestern Lehigh County Comprehensive Plan, and in addition to achieving other community development objectives of Section 104 of this Ordinance, the AC Agricultural Conservation District is intended to: Protect the Township’s agricultural uses from conflicts by minimizing the encroachment of non-farm land uses; Encourage the retention of large contiguous areas of Township farmland; Support the Township and regional agricultural economy and agri-tourism efforts; Protect the public investment in the Township’s preserved farms; Protect the Township’s prime farmland soils as defined by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code; Provide the community and region with other natural and cultural resource conservation benefits; Enable local farmers to voluntarily convey their development rights, through sale or donation, to Lehigh County, Lower Milford Township, or a qualified conservation organization, or through sale to a developer through use of the Ordinance’s Transferable Development Rights TDR provisions; and Permit other low-impact non-agricultural uses within the Township so that farmers can supplement their farm incomes.; Residents of the AC Agricultural Conservation District must be willing to accept the impacts associated with daily farming practices and related businesses.