More Properties Request Agricultural Security Area Status in North East Township

The North East Township Board of Supervisors hereby gives public notice of the receipt of request for the inclusion of additional properties in the Agricultural Security Area as acknowledged by Resolution No. 1993-007. The proposal was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Agricultural Area Security Law (Act 43 of 1981, as amended). The proposal is on file and open to the public for inspection at the North East Township Municipal Building, 10300 West Main Road, North East, Pennsylvania, during regular business hours.

Any local government unit encompassing or adjacent to the proposed area or any land owner who owns land proposed to be included within the area or any land owner with lands adjacent or near to the proposed area who wishes such lands to be included or not included therein, may provide modifications of the proposed area by filing the appropriate forms with the Township office.

All objections to this proposal or proposed modifications to this proposal must be filed with the Township and the Planning Commission with fifteen (15) days of the publication of this notice. Thereafter, the original proposal, plus changes, shall be submitted to the North East Township Planning Commission and the Agricultural Area Advisory Committee for their review. Thereafter, a public hearing will be held on the proposal, proposed modifications and recommendations of the Planning Commission and Advisory Committee. Karen A. Ahlgrim, Secretary, North East Township

Agricultural Security Area Handbook

Editor’s note: The following paragraph is the relevant section from the handbook that applies to additions to current agricultural security areas. These are in addition to the basic parameters outlined in detail in the handbook. In past years, there has been some question whether all properties submitted by North East Township to be included in the request met the parameters as outlined by the state.

Proposals For Addition
Any owner or owners of land used for agricultural production may submit a proposal to the governing body for the addition to an agricultural security area within such local government unit. The proposed area may also consist of any number of noncontiguous tax parcels or accounts, provided that each tax parcel or account is at least ten acres or has an anticipated yearly gross income of at least $2,000 from the agricultural production of crops, livestock and livestock products on such parcel or account. There shall be no requirement that any proposal for such addition include at least 250 acres of viable agricultural land. (emphasis added)