4700 Baer Ridge Rd, Hellam, PA 17406

Rural Agricultural Zone

The primary purpose of the Rural Agricultural Zone is to provide the opportunity to maintain the agricultural basis of the Township and the most productive soils for agricultural use and thus discourage the excessive conversion of farmland to nonagricultural use and protect the farmer from adverse impacts from the intrusion of nonfarm uses into agricultural areas. By establishing the Rural Agricultural Zone, the Board of Supervisors further intends to protect and stabilize the Townships agricultural economy by prohibiting uses that are incompatible with farming while permitting agricultural support businesses. The provisions of this article are specifically formulated to further the objectives of the Municipalities Planning Code that zoning ordinances shall be designed to preserve prime agricultural land and farm land considering topography, soil type and classification, and present use. The Rural Agricultural Zone serves several important purposes in the Township. Division of parcels within this zone is strictly limited so as to minimize development of productive farmland and disturbance of natural and historic resources. Residential uses are severely limited, and any future inhabitants in this district must be willing to accept the impacts associated with normal farming practices. Owners, occupants and users of property within this district must be prepared to accept such impacts from agricultural operations and are hereby put on official notice that Section 4 of Act 133 of 1982, as amended, known as the Right to Farm Law and Sections 311 through 318 of the Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment Act ACRE of 2005, as amended, 3 Pa.C.S.A. Section 311 through 318, may bar them from obtaining a legal judgment against such agricultural operations