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Public divided as Board to consider farmland preservation referendum and EAC presentation
Summary
Members of the public urged caution about creating an Environmental Advisory Council and discussed a possible referendum to fund farmland preservation; the solicitor will share Moore Township ordinances and the Board agreed to add a presentation to the next agenda.
Several residents urged the Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors on Jan. 28 to examine farmland-preservation options carefully and to hear from other municipalities before committing to a referendum or creating an Environmental Advisory Council (EAC).
Kristin Soldridge and other speakers cautioned that an EAC can add regulatory review and potentially increase permit costs for property owners, saying such a council can delay projects and impose additional requirements. "It comes in and gives all these additional regulations that people of the Township have to abide by and ends up increasing costs for permits and administrative staff," Soldridge said, urging the Board to consider impacts on farmers and property owners.
Supervisor Janet Sheats said she would not support raising taxes for farmland preservation before addressing other priority needs such as additional police officers, and several residents asked the Board to obtain information from Moore Township, which operates farmland-preservation programs.
Attorney David Backenstoe said he would provide copies of Moore Township’s farmland-preservation ordinances and noted the statutory process for establishing a referendum under the Open Space and Preservation Act cited in the meeting minutes (PS 32§ 5001, 7.1.a.3), including that a referendum is required to set a specific tax rate and that a tax could not be repealed for at least five years after approval. The Board agreed to include a farmland-preservation presentation and sample ordinances on the agenda for the second meeting in February.
No referendum or ordinance was adopted at the Jan. 28 meeting; the Board directed staff to gather Moore Township materials and to host a presentation so members and residents can consider whether to proceed.
