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Owner seeks Agricultural Security Area designation to deter PennDOT land takings
Summary
An Offenger property owner asked the Planning Commission to forward an Agricultural Security Area (ASA) application to the Board of Supervisors to add protection against PennDOT acquisition for Carlisle Pike widening; commissioners agreed to forward the application.
At the May 1 meeting, Laura Brown presented an Offenger Agricultural Security Area (ASA) application and asked the Planning Commission to forward it to the Board of Supervisors. Brown said the parcel has not been used for agricultural purposes in recent years after the death of one owner and that the ASA status would provide an added layer of protection against a possible PennDOT right‑of‑way taking tied to Carlisle Pike widening.
Commissioners discussed the application; Commissioner Ron Secary confirmed Brown's stated motivation "to deter PennDOT from taking some of the land along Carlisle Pike, by eminent domain." Commissioner Randy Duncan observed that the prior owner had farm animals and said ASA status could help someone resume farming. On a McDonald/Sandys motion the Planning Commission forwarded the application to the Board of Supervisors for approval.
Next steps: The Board of Supervisors will consider the ASA application and determine whether to include the Offenger parcel in the township's Agricultural Security Area program.
