274 Wiest School Rd, Reading, PA 19606

Agricultural Preservation District

The AP Agricultural Preservation District is designed to protect and promote agriculture as a major component of the economy of the Township and of Berks County. The district is designed to achieve compliance with 604 3 of the Municipalities Planning Code which directs that zoning ordinances contain provisions designed to preserve prime agriculture and farmland considering topography, soil type and classification and present use. The zoning district is intended to preserve for agricultural use the best farmlands of the township as well as existing associated buildings, structures, etc.; The Comprehensive Plan recognizes the unique quality of the farmland of Oley Township and establishes the preservation of that high quality farmland as a major goal of the plan.; In planning for agricultural land, it is the Township’s policy not to consider agricultural land as undeveloped farmland awaiting another use. Farmland must be considered as developed land. It is being used to produce a product. Farming is a land intensive manufacturing process which converts raw materials into a product, comparable to other industrial operations, with occasional accompanying nuisances of noise odor and dust. The agricultural zone should not be considered as a holding zone but as a zone having a positive purpose of utilizing the Township’s natural resources for the benefit of the entire community and the Township should protect the agricultural zone from interference by incompatible uses which break down the integrity of the zone and also interfere with normal and customary operations within the zone.