The preservation of agricultural productivity is essential to the
social, physical, and economic welfare of our nation and our region.
Such productivity is directly related to the preservation of the finite
and limited amount of prime agricultural land available for the pursuit
of agriculture. Productivity is also directly related to the need
for the preservation of large homogenous agricultural areas because
when urbanized uses are permitted to intrude into agricultural areas,
normal agricultural activities such as livestock operations tend to
become incompatible with the intruding urban uses; also, increasing
urbanization changes the intensity and character of traffic on rural
roads, making their use difficult for the pursuit of agricultural
activities.
The regulations of the Agricultural Districts are designed to regulate
the use of land, buildings and structures within areas of the Village
which are largely characterized by existing agricultural uses and
where soil and topographic conditions are conducive to the continuation
of the pursuit of agriculture.
The A
Agricultural District is intended to preserve agricultural use as
an important economic and land use component of the county. It recognizes
that some residential development is necessary within agricultural
areas, principally to accommodate the housing needs of persons associated
with agricultural production; however, the A District is designed
to limit such residential development to a low density (a maximum
of approximately 32 dwellings per square mile) that will not adversely
affect the principal purpose of the zoning district. Residential subdivision
development is not consistent with the purpose of the A Agricultural
District.
The A-R Agricultural-Residential District is intended to provide
for a higher density of residential development than is permitted
in the A Agricultural District for those tracts of land within or
adjoining agricultural areas where specific criteria establish that:
Criteria for establishment of A-R Agricultural-Residence District.
Prior to the establishment of any A-R Agricultural-Residence District
within or adjoining an A Agricultural District, the following conditions
shall be present:
Land not well suited for agricultural use. It shall be determined
that the tract of land is not well suited for agricultural use by
virtue of one or of the following factors:
A substantial portion of the soils on the property are not classified
as "prime agricultural soils" by the United States Department of Agriculture
Soil Conservation Service.
The agricultural productivity of the property will not yield
a reasonable return in comparison to the general level of return of
other agricultural properties in the vicinity.
Nonagricultural use of the property will not substantially impair
the agricultural use of adjacent properties. It shall be established
that the nonagricultural use of the tract of land will not adversely
affect agricultural uses in the neighborhood by virtue of one or more
of the following factors:
Residential dwellings will not be located where existing or
future livestock operations, fertilizer operations or grain drying
operations may cause an incompatible relationship of uses;
Residential dwellings shall have direct access from local subdivision
streets to a thoroughfare which will be reasonably safe, with consideration
given to road dimensions, quality of surface, viability and adequacy
of the road to serve the mix of traffic, to include agricultural vehicles
and implements;
The property lends itself to sound residential development,
considering its existing and proposed topography, soil conditions,
soil absorption, stormwater runoff provisions, and the availability
of necessary services, such as fire and police protection, schools,
roads, electricity, sewage disposal, water supply, and the like required
by the utility or governmental agency having jurisdiction.