Manheim Township Supervisors have been approached by members of our farming community in frustration. They are seeking support when applying for York County Agricultural Land Preservation. We have learned that prior applicants have not been successful when applying for the competitive Grant Program administered by the York County Agricultural Land Preservation Board.
Analysis of Preservation Criteria
As we researched the subject, we discovered that the competitive Grant Program for permanently preserving farms evaluates applications based on 16 specific criteria, 1 of which is tied to municipal ordinances, awarding points as follows:
● Five (5) points for ordinances requiring building lots to be placed on the least productive soils.
● Five (5) points for ordinances that enforce a maximum lot size restriction.
● Fifteen (15) points for ordinances protecting 75% or more of the farm from non-agricultural development.
A total of 25 points is possible through these criteria. However, based on current Manheim Zoning Ordinances within the agricultural zone, most applicants only receive five out of the 25 possible points, which negatively affects their chances of being selected for the preservation program.
Community Engagement and Next Steps
Ordinance changes required to increase the likelihood of selection would necessitate modifications to our current ordinances to more closely align with the three criteria stated above.
We are now actively seeking input from our community, particularly those residing in the agricultural zone, regarding these potential changes. We specifically ask for your thoughts on modifying existing and/or placing these additional zoning restrictions on agricultural areas in the interest of better supporting our farming community and enhancing their opportunities for land preservation.
Your feedback is crucial as we consider how to best support agricultural viability within Manheim Township. Your comments are valuable to us as we evaluate possible ordinance changes and their specifics. Please carefully consider the following and provide your feedback.