![]() If an offer is accepted by the landowner, the Township will then enter into contract with that landowner and begin the due-diligence process. After a submitted application receives approval from the SADC, the Township will order two appraisals to determine the easement value. This process begins with an application, which is reviewed by the Agriculture Advisory Committee, followed by the Open Space Advisory Committee and then the Township Council. To preserve farmland, the Township purchases development rights. To achieve this goal, the Township has obtained Planning Incentive Grants (PIG grants) from the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), utilized existing Open Space Trust Fund allocations, drafted the 2019 Municipal Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan, started a Community Farmers Market (2017), and worked with other Township, County, State and Non-Profit groups to form a cohesive vision for agriculture. One of the goals of the Township’s Open Space Preservation Plan is to support, promote and advance agriculture as a viable economic enterprise in our Township, while preserving the historic agricultural vistas. When this figure is added to an additional 400 acres of Township-owned open space land leased to farmers, the total is 6,549 acres, which is 23.4% of the Township. ![]() In addition, approximately 1,300 acres of over 3,000 total acres in Six Mile Run are currently leased to farmers. In addition to farmland adding to the scenic landscape and providing the land basis for the industry, farming is one of the most important economic enterprises in our Township.Īs of May 2019, 3,815 acres of land were classified as farmland assessed, equaling 13.6% of the total acreage in Franklin Township. The predominant land use in the Township is agriculture, as noted in the Township Master Plan.
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