EASTON, Pa. — A new, county-level partnership is being struck Thursday to preserve farmland and ward off development in parts of the Lehigh Valley.
Officials from both Northampton and Carbon counties have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, allowing Northampton’s farmland preservation and open space program to help Carbon County expand its own efforts.
The memorandum will be signed at the Carbon County Commissioners’ meeting Thursday, according to a news release from Northampton County officials. The agenda for that meeting, has not yet been posted.
After it’s signed, a working group made up of staff from both counties will be established, according to the release.
This is a great opportunity to gain knowledge for the Carbon County Open Space Program, as well as enhancing the Farmland Preservation program. With direction on job descriptions, policies and procedures, Carbon County will be able to move forward in the positive direction.Carbon County Commissioner Rocky Ahner
“This is a great opportunity to gain knowledge for the Carbon County Open Space Program, as well as enhancing the Farmland Preservation program,” Carbon County Commissioner Rocky Ahner said in the release. “With direction on job descriptions, policies and procedures, Carbon County will be able to move forward in the positive direction.”
“I’d also like to thank Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure and his staff for extending a helping hand to us, let this be a template for others to work together.”
Northampton County officials have decades of experience in farmland and green space preservation.
The county’s Farmland Preservation and Agricultural Conservation Easement programs started in 1991, followed by an Open Space Program established 2004, according to the release. To date, the county has 255 farms preserved, totaling 19,279 acres. Twelve easements are currently in progress, totaling approximately 610 acres.
Last month, state officials announced two Northampton County farms were the latest to be included in the commonwealth’s Farmland Preservation Program, along with more than a dozen others across the state. Through the program, farmers sell their development rights to the state’s State Land Preservation Board, protecting the land from any future residential or commercial development.
Similarly, an agricultural conservation easement works as a voluntary deed restriction to prohibit any land use other than for agricultural land uses, remaining so in perpetuity.
With the growing demand of warehouses, I commend Carbon County for taking steps to preserve their region’s natural resources as they embark on the laudable goal of Agricultural and Conservation Easement Purchases for open space preservation.Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure
“With the growing demand of warehouses, I commend Carbon County for taking steps to preserve their region’s natural resources as they embark on the laudable goal of Agricultural and Conservation Easement Purchases for open space preservation,” McClure said in the release. “This MOU formalizes an agreement for Northampton County’s Farmland Preservation and Open Space Program to provide Carbon with program administration assistance and technical resources and offer guidance regarding our models and best practices.”
The county has also awarded $20.75 million in Livable Landscapes grants since 2006 for successful local and regional park improvements, open space plans, recreation, land conservation, ecological restoration and trail projects.
In the last half-decade, about 3,600 acres have been preserved, including more than 379 acres added to county parks, preserves and trails.
