For the third time, East Lampeter Township supervisors Wednesday voted against establishing an agricultural security area in the township.

Supporters of the idea today vowed to continue a fight for the area, which would permit farmers to apply for farmland preservation, discourage nuisance laws that restrict farming and restrict the government's ability to condemn farmland.

"We want justice done," said Lois Duling, a township resident and member of the Conestoga Valley Coalition, which supports a township ag security area. "We will be appealing this."

Said Ken Denlinger, a farmer whose land would have been included in the area: "I am disappointed. I wish it would have went through."

Three supervisors, Glenn Eberly, David Buckwalter and Roger Rutt, voted against the security area. One, Michael Landis, voted for it. A fifth, Wil Sollenberger, was not at the meeting.

The supervisors voted against a proposal to put 13 farms, totaling 788 acres, in an ag security area.

Eberly did not return a call for comment. Buckwalter was reached, but said he was too busy to talk. Rutt could not be reached for comment.

The supervisors denied other ag security proposals in 1996 and in 2004.

In the past, the supervisors said farmers already have the proper protection through measures such as the Right to Farm Act and township laws.

The supervisors also have said that ag security areas near Routes 23 and 30 could cause planning problems.

Denlinger, whose farm has been in his family for almost 200 years, said, "They feel we're already protected. Yes, for the present. But I'm concerned about the future. The next zoning board might not have as strong feelings as these guys."

Placing a farm in an ag security area is the first step toward preservation. Some supervisors have expressed dissatisfaction about using tax dollars for that preservation.

"The money is there," Denlinger noted. "If East Lampeter doesn't use it, other townships will. The county puts it in their budget."

Fred Daum, a township resident and preservation proponent, said East Lampeter is one of only three townships in the county that do not have ag security areas, joining Upper Leacock and Leacock townships.

Duling said it is not fair that East Lampeter farmers do not have the same option as farmers elsewhere in the county.

"It is total discrimination against a group that feeds us," she said.

Duling also said that the vast majority of people attending township meetings have supported the ag security area. She has heard calls for impeachment of the supervisors, she said.

Denlinger said, "I question sometimes if the supervisors are representing the people or going by their own convictions. Is your job to represent the township people? I would think if it would go to a vote, the residents would support it."

Conestoga Valley Coalition has retained an attorney and vowed to continue the fight in court.

"We will not give up," Duling said. "We exist to strengthen the farmers." blog comments powered by Disqus