1404 Mentzer Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602

Agricultural District

WLT has significant amounts of land designated for agricultural future land use. Large portions of this land consist of prime farmland that is in need of protection from development if the agricultural economic base, rural character, and way of life is to be maintained. Many areas of prime farmland have already been lost to development pressures. Currently, a majority of the remaining prime farmland is utilized for agriculture, with some land designated for open space and park uses. A significant portion of prime agricultural land can be found surrounding WLT’s historical features (e.g., Hans Herr House) or abutting natural features such as Mill Creek and Pequea Creek. A fair portion of these lands are already enrolled in the Agricultural Preservation Program or are designated as Agricultural Security Areas, while additional acreage is enrolled in the Clean and Green (Act 319) Program. WLT should continue taking steps to preserve its agricultural land, making continued efforts to enroll more farmland in agricultural land preservation programs. This is particularly important for land adjacent to the growth boundaries to create a greenbelt buffer, which not only protects WLT’s character but also acts as a development control when used in conjunction with other policies. These areas adjacent to the growth boundaries are the most threatened because they are closest to areas where public infrastructure could be extended and development correspondingly occur. WLT’s Agricultural Preservation Committee should also take a proactive role in identifying farms and farmers interested in enrolling in land protection programs or seek outside preservation groups to purchase development rights or conservation easements.