394 Hahnstown Rd, Ephrata, PA 17522

Agricultural Zone

The primary purpose of this zone is to promote the continuation and preservation of agricultural activities in those areas most suitable for such activities. It is further intended to protect farms of sufficient size to allow them to remain economically viable, as opposed to the creation of farmettes that are not agriculturally productive. This zone also intends to protect and stabilize the Township's viable agricultural economy by eliminating uses that are incompatible with farming, but permitting limited agricultural support businesses. Consequently, residential uses are limited, and any future inhabitants in this zone must be willing to accept the impacts associated with normal farming practices, and related businesses. Additionally, large-scale and obtrusive uses are permitted by conditional use, to separate them from the Township's population concentrations. Finally, the provisions of this zone have been specifically formulated to further the objectives of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, which provides that local zoning ordinances shall be designed to preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification, and present use.