306 Saint Thomas Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601

Agricultural District

The purpose of this district is to promote the continuation and preservation of agricultural activities in those areas most suitable for such activities. The intent of the Board of Commissioners in establishing this district is also to protect and stabilize the Township's viable agricultural economy by eliminating uses that are incompatible with farming, but permitting limited agricultural support businesses.; It is the specific intent of the Board of Commissioners to implement the provisions of Section 604 3 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, which requires that the provisions of this Ordinance shall be designed to preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification and present use. In order to attain this goal, the regulations of this district are designed to protect and stabilize agriculture in areas of productive soils as an ongoing, viable, major component of the economy of the Township and Lancaster County, to with limited exceptions only those land uses and activities which are agricultural in nature, to 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 building and other nonagricultural purposes, and to prevent adverse effects resulting from the encroachment and mixing of residential and other incompatible development with agricultural uses. The agricultural zone is also intended to be a sending area for the transferable development rights as outlined in Article 26 of this Ordinance.