Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County approves two agricultural easement purchases, taking preserved farmland to roughly 20,232 acres
Summary
The Board approved easement agreements for two farms — 79.83 acres for the Witter family and 141.1 acres for the Hikes family — adding roughly 220.9 acres to the county’s preserved farmland total, which staff said represents about 4% of the county's land area.
Franklin County commissioners approved two agricultural easement agreements that planning staff said would increase the county's permanently preserved farmland to about 20,232 acres.
Planning Director Quentin Clapper presented the agreements: an easement for Paul and Pamela Witter covering 79.83 acres for $199,175.85, and an easement for Steven and Lynn Hikes covering 141.10 acres for $302,236.20. Clapper said the parcels are northeast of Shippensburg and in southwestern Antrim Township along Conococheague Creek, respectively.
Clapper explained the county’s valuation method: staff obtain two appraisals — a fair‑market appraisal and a farm‑only appraisal — and the difference between those appraisals establishes the easement’s value. The easement restricts the land to permanent agricultural use while allowing limited onsite solar to support farming operations and a potential two‑acre subdivision for an additional home in some cases.
Staff said roughly 60 parcels are on a formal waiting list for preservation and that the county’s preserved acreage of about 20,000 acres equals roughly 30 square miles, or about 4% of Franklin County’s roughly 750 square miles.
Commissioners approved the agreements by voice vote; the record shows "Aye. Aye. Motion passes." Staff said another 1,600 acres were in processing at the time of the presentation.
