Township of Edgmont, PA Agricultural Security Areas

The Agricultural Preservation District Committee and the Planning Commission of Edgmont Township, in accordance with the provisions of the Agricultural Area Security Law, Acts 43 of 1981, as amended (the "Act") (3 P.S. § 901 et seq.), have recommended to the Board of Supervisors that they adopt an ordinance creating an Agricultural Security District; and

The Board of Supervisors has deemed it appropriate to create an Agricultural Security District, having reviewed the proposals of the Planning Commission and the Agricultural Security District Committee; and

The Board of Supervisors, pursuant to public law, has held a public hearing, and given published notice of its intention to hold such hearing, for the purposes of receiving the reports of the Agricultural Security District Advisory Committee and the Planning Commission; and

The Township of Edgmont has, since its inception, been founded and largely dedicated to agricultural purposes and the Board of Supervisors, after reviewing the reports and holding the hearings required pursuant to the Act, concludes that the continued presence of agricultural land enhances the rural, suburban and residential areas of the Township; and

Twenty different landowners have proposed to include 808.3 acres within an Agricultural Security District, and a description of those incorporated properties is attached to this chapter; and

The Township Supervisors, in their judgment, deem it appropriate to preserve those areas which remain dedicated to agricultural purposes and wish to protect the aforesaid areas in a manner which allows them to coexist with the residential development rapidly expanding within the Township; it is now hereby resolved by the Board of Supervisors of Edgmont Township that an Agricultural Security District, as defined in the Act, is hereby formed and shall consist of those parcels of land herein identified and attached hereto and made a part hereof.

It is further resolved that those properties contained within the delineated Agricultural Security District shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Act; and shall be entitled to all of the protections accorded pursuant to the Act as well as such other protections as the Township Supervisors may enact.

By way of example but not in limitation thereof, it is the intention of the Board of Supervisors that an owner placing his/her land within the Agricultural Security District, which land has been accepted by the Board of Supervisors for inclusion within same, shall not thereby relinquish any right to sell, develop or change the use of the land during the life of the Agricultural Security District, or to act in any manner not inconsistent with the Act, and there will be no penalties imposed if the owner does elect to sell his/her land or develop it in accordance with the ordinances of Edgmont Township; and

Edgmont Township shall not, during the pendency or the existence of this Agricultural Security District, adopt any ordinances, resolutions or statutes which are in conflict with the provisions of the Act, as aforesaid, or which would restrict the use of such subject lands for agricultural purposes.

Any property owner or owners with 10 or more contiguous acres shall be eligible for inclusion in the Agricultural Security District by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

Any property owner with a minimum of four contiguous acres, provided that said property adjoins a previously incorporated parcel or is a part of a group of adjoining property owners seeking the inclusion of property, the aggregate of which is 10 or more acres, or contiguous to a property previously incorporated within the District.

Any property owner seeking inclusion within the Agricultural Security District may do so by application to the Township signed by all owners of record, provided that the requirements of this chapter have been otherwise satisfied.