Representatives from RenewLV, Julie Thomases and Joyce Marin, spoke at the Heidelberg supervisors June 16 meeting.

With an initiative to preserve farmland in the Lehigh Valley, the speakers brought facts and opinions to the attention of the board.

Thomases provided information on a recent survey conducted by Muhlenberg College’s Institute of Public Opinion which tallied how registered voters in the Valley feel about farmland preservation.

In most cases, a majority of voters say farmland has a major effect on the quality of life in their community and preservation should be a high priority for their county government.

Three out of four voters were willing to pay $10 a year toward the cause. Over half were willing to pay up to $25.

In 2005, a comprehensive plan for the Lehigh Valley was developed by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and was adopted by Lehigh and Northampton counties.

The plan calls for preserving approximately 25 percent of the land for agricultural purposes.

According to a farmland preservation snapshot provided by RenewLV, based upon data from government agencies, out of the 222,973 total acres in Lehigh County, there are 54,672 of remaining unprotected farmland (21,659 have been preserved to date), leaving 34,084 acres needing to be preserved for Lehigh County to meet the 25 percent goal.

RenewLV provided a list of 15 ways townships can act today to be proactive.

“Easements are the most powerful because they literally are farmland forever,” said Marin. “If we really want to preserve the character of your region, it has to be whatever will work for your township.”

Supervisor David Fink mentioned the township does have agricultural preservation zoning in place.

Marin said while zoning is important, there are ways to contest it. She said there is frustration zoning is not as strong as people think.

The zoning can be changed by the next governing body or zoning commission or could go the wrong way depending on a judge’s ruling, as she described happening to farmland in Upper Macungie Township.

“To get the most traction possible, township dollars can be matched against the county program,” said Marin, adding the hope is those dollars can be leveraged when matched with the state.

Lower Macungie has already added funds into budget and Lower Milford is planning to do the same. Other townships, including Upper Macungie are talking about it.

As more municipalities come up with dollars, the expectation is matching funds will increase.

“Farming communities don’t really like taxes, but they don’t really like the development either,” Marin said. “When they weigh one against another, they pick taxes because they do not want to lose the character of their community.

“It’s about our food security, air quality, water quality. “It has to do with our identity as a region. It’s hard to imagine, really, the Lehigh Valley we know and love without the vistas of rolling farmland.”

Supervisors will continue to examine options within the township, but the first step was agreed upon.

The board will send a letter of support to Lehigh County commissioners and to the executive stating Heidelberg’s support for the county to be fully funded.

In other matters, the monthly reports were given.

Road Superintendent Kevin Huber reported trimming is in full force. The crew got around all the roads except for one road going up to the Knob.

“The way the weeds are growing though, we can turn around and start again,” Huber said.

Several street signs that were stolen have been replaced.

Chairman Steve Bachman asked how many road signs.

Huber responded that six IDs and two regular signs were stolen.

Bachman recalled that a few years ago, they had a big problem with signs being taken to the total of $7,000 in replacement.

“Up on the mountain they are always taking signs,” said Huber. “Since they are such big signs, they can wobble them and break the hardware.

“We used aluminum angle iron and made braces so they couldn’t do that, then we welded on it so it was rough to handle instead of nice and smooth and that lasted a lot longer. This time they just snapped the pole off and took everything.”

The road crew continues to use preventative measures.