Last farm in Township dealing with township ordinance preventing tillage, any ideas?

[familyman]

If I'm reading this map right, he's not on the watershed.
File:Chesapeake bay watershed map.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[zzvyb6]

Apply for a permit to build a 5000 unit trailer park if you've lost agricultural zoning. Better call the riot squad to be on hand when the neighbors show up at the town hall to protest. Then compromise.

Worked for me. Lets see now, hay, corn and soybeans or trash, sewers and an overloaded school system. Hmmm, hard choice ain't it ...

 

[coveredbridge]

If I'm reading this map right, he's not on the watershed.
File:Chesapeake bay watershed map.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Regs apply statewide. Impetus for more aggressive enforcement is Chesapeake Bay.

 

[srossman]

Charlie, I don't have anything to offer but to say thanks for keeping your farm out of developers hands. I drive through Charlestown township almost every day on my way to work (Malvern) and hate all the development that has gone on around the area.

 

[sixdogs]

I would call the state or local Farm Bureau and talk with them. They have legislative people and likely know the answer before you are done asking the question. They are especially versed on "right to farm" things and will inform and support farmers.

 

[meburdick]

I would call the state or local Farm Bureau and talk with them. They have legislative people and likely know the answer before you are done asking the question. They are especially versed on "right to farm" things and will inform and support farmers.

+1

While you have a right to farm the land, there are likely going to be facets that will require you to "prove" you aren't contributing to the premature erosion of any land, even if it isn't your own.

I also strongly encourage you to read up on ALL of your state and local ordinances that may have bearing and apply a thorough amount of logic when interpreting. I had a major issue with my local zoning board last year trying to get a permit for a pool. I learned two things in the process: 1) The "Proposed" drawing of my house on file with the town counts as an "As Built" because the drawing was certified by a surveyor after construction was complete and 2) the town violated its own ordinances in not having a surveyor certify the placement of the property pins marking the boundary points for my land (they were never installed). If the town had wanted to proceed with making me have my property surveyed, I could have sued them for the cost since they didn't verify the pin locations prior to issuing a Certificate of Occupancy. It took attending a zoning meeting and being pragmatic with them about what I was trying to do to get my permits. It never came down to threats of legal action, either.

 

[sixdogs]

Almost everywhere the "right to farm" supercedes all other things. Make that Farm Bureau call.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

In this part of the state all the local govt. officials want to tell everyone what they can and can't do. Sometimes it gets crazy to the point of going to jail over simple things.

All I can say is good luck! (oh, and howdy neighbor! I live about 12 miles away from you.)

 

[boomer1025]

Sounds like someone in the township or school board doesn't like farms. If they want a plan, use this one.
Option A, clear the land for ag crop use with cover crop for erosion control
Option B, if I have to spend thousand on engineering & legal fees, then I might build several hog barns and use the manure to improve the fertility of the soil on the other 150 acres, and yes I'd file a manure management plan with the county.
Option C, tell them it's going to be a lawn and plant it in hay and use your other acres for crops.

 

[s219]

Don't rely on the word of the bldg inspector. We just went a round with our local inspectors regarding house position on our land. He wanted 15 feet from the rear setback, whereas we want to put the house right on the setback. Turns out the 15 feet is just "staff policy" to minimize oversight, and they actually have no teeth to back it up. It's not part of code or law. Of course, they didn't tell me that when they rejected the site plan and told me to move the house 15 feet (resurveying at my expense). I had to lookup the county code, and let them know I knew the rules before they caved in. All to let me do what is my right. I lost respect for these guys.

In your case, if the land is zoned agricultural, I'd tell the building inspector to shove it. Then research the rules/ordinances governing land disturbance on agricultural land, and go from there. At least here in VA, land disturbance involves moving soil and/or changing the erosion/sedimentation characteristics of the land. So there's a distinction between cutting down a tree (OK) and digging out a stump (land disturbance). I'd think that mowing and cleaning up downed trees/logs would not count as land disturbance. You're not really impacting the erosion/sedimentation characteristics of the land.