Staff Liasion: Mila Carter, Township Manager
Westtown Township established an Agricultural Security (ASA) Advisory Committee in 1989 to help farmers, landowners, and citizens who want to maintain active farming, open space, and a rural character that all Westtown residents can enjoy.
An Agricultural Security Area is a state-enabled voluntary program that allows inclusion of parcels of at least 10 acres that can support any form of agriculture, forestry, or other types of open space. Westtown’s ASA now encompasses more than 1,000 acres, or 20% of the total Township. This program is one tool that has helped the Township strengthen and protect quality farmland and other open space from the relentless pressure of urbanization. The benefits to landowners are:
- Protection against local nuisance ordinances that hinder farming activity
- Oversight of any attempts to condemn land through eminent domain
- Create eligibility for conservation easement application under the county farmland preservation program
For more information about ASA’s please read the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Agricultural Security Area Handbook.
The local administration of the Westtown’s ASA is managed by a five-person advisory committee that includes four residents (at least three of whom must be active farmers) and one supervisor. The duties of this committee include:
- Advising the Board of Supervisors on agricultural issues
- Reviewing of the land enrolled in the ASA every seven years
- Adding new parcels of qualified farmland
The ASA Advisory Committee meets as needed. Meetings are advertised in advance.
