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West Lampeter board directs staff to support farmland preservation referendum planning
Summary
The Board of Supervisors agreed to direct staff to support Lancaster Farmland Trust’s work toward a possible public funding referendum (potentially Fall 2028) for agricultural and open space preservation and noted a special committee will likely be needed to advance the effort.
The West Lampeter Township Board of Supervisors on July 13 directed staff to support the Lancaster Farmland Trust’s work toward a possible referendum to fund agricultural and open-space preservation through a tax levy, with a potential ballot timing of Fall 2028.
Jeff Swinehart, Executive Director of the Lancaster Farmland Trust, and Matt Knepper, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board, presented to the Board about options for public funding of farmland preservation. Chairperson Randy Moyer said the Township will likely need a special committee to help with outreach and planning, and the Board provided general consensus to have staff collaborate with the Trust on next steps.
Board members signaled interest in moving cautiously but proactively. The presentation prompted direction to staff to continue engagement and to return the topic to a future agenda with more detail on public-education steps and timing. No formal vote to place a referendum on the ballot occurred at the meeting.
If the Board and the Trust pursue a referendum, the measure would seek public authorization for a tax levy dedicated to farmland and open-space preservation; the Board asked staff to identify governance, timing and outreach tasks necessary to prepare the Township for that process.
Next steps: staff were directed to work with the Lancaster Farmland Trust and the Lancaster County Agricultural Preserve Board and to report back to the Board on a recommended committee structure and timeline before any formal ballot action is proposed.
