A member of the county's Agricultural Preserve Board — which works to prevent farmland from being developed — wants to rezone 26 acres of a West Earl farm so he can build 156 new homes there.

But Richard Hurst's Hurst Brothers Development Co. of Ephrata should first show more residential land is really needed in the region before farmland is converted and the Brownstown urban growth area is extended to include the tract, according to the county planning commission.

In advance of a public hearing Monday on the proposal, the commission has recommended that West Earl supervisors postpone rezoning farmland and revising its comprehensive plan.

Farmland shouldn't be rezoned "without demographic proof there is an unfulfilled need for residential land in the area," said Frank P. Behlau, the county's director for community planning.

The project site is part of Greystone Manor Farms, stretching from Oregon Pike (Route 272) north to the Cocalico Creek, west of homes along Rose Hill Road.

Mark Stanley, the developer's attorney, has said the tract should logically be included in the urban growth area, which currently shares a border with the property.

The tract at one time was zoned for medium residential development but was changed to agriculture because it lacked access to sewer and water facilities at the time, he said. Now, that access is available.

Hurst has served on the county's agricultural preserve board since 1990 and he has also served on a growth management task force.

His wife, Bert, said this morning he was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Gene Garber, chairman of the preserve board, defended Hurst's commitment to preserving farmland.

He said if this particular property would be more appropriate as farmland, Hurst wouldn't develop it.

"Read into it what you want," he said. "I don't think this means he is any less a supporter of the ag preservation program. He is extremely interested in (preserving farmland)."

Garber said, in principle, he opposes rezoning farmland for residential development, but each specific case should be looked at individually.

A public hearing on the proposed rezoning and amending of the joint comprehensive plan is set for 7 p.m. Monday, at the West Earl Township building, 157 W. Metzler Road, Brownstown.

The county planning commission recommended that future population needs of the Conestoga Valley region should be analyzed and updated before rezoning farmland and expanding the urban growth area.

The county in 2002 projected the CV Region would add 4,329 people to its 2000 population of 28,551 by the year 2020. Those residents would need a minimum of 479 vacant acres for new homes.

The Geographic Information Systems Land Use/Land Cover document created in 2005 said West Earl Township alone had 371 vacant, residential-zoned acres.

Also in the Conestoga Valley Region, Upper Leacock and East Lampeter townships had another 1,508 acres of vacant residential land.

The planning commission said the CV Regional Comprehensive Plan does not support the Hurst rezoning proposal.

The plan recommends adjusting the urban growth area at the Route 222/Route 322 interchange and adopting seven new village growth boundaries.

It also identifies five future growth areas, with the expectation that "these areas will not be brought into the urban growth boundary until existing UGB areas have been developed."

The Hurst tract is not included in any of these areas.

George M. Hurst is owner on record of most of the land proposed for development. He is Richard's brother.

West Earl supervisors will eventually have the final say on the project.

But since West Earl participates in a joint comprehensive plan with East Lampeter and Upper Leacock townships, and the Conestoga Valley School District, the other government bodies can make recommendations to West Earl with regard to proposed zoning-ordinance changes.

Supervisors in Upper Leacock and East Lampeter townships have recommended that West Earl approve Hurst Brothers' proposal.

Conestoga Valley School District Superintendent Gerald G. Huesken sent a letter to West Earl Township stating the development would force the district to either add on to the current Brownstown Elementary School or build a new elementary school.

Either scenario would create an "undue hardship," Huesken wrote.

CONTACT US: rrobinson@LNPnews.com or 481-6032