Plum property owners seek to create agriculture security areas in the borough

More than a dozen Plum property owners want to establish agriculture security areas (ASAs) in the borough.

Resident Dori Tompa, one of the applicants in support of the ASAs, came before council at its Jan. 4 work session to ask for the borough’s help.

She is in the process of converting some of her 53-acre property along Saltsburg Road into more farmland with resident farmer Matthew Majetich.

“It will be extremely meaningful for everyone who has a farm in accessing resources that we can’t access now,” Tompa said. “It protects the properties.”

The ASA program was established in 1981 through the state Department of Agriculture.

According to the department’s website, one of its benefits is that participating farmers are entitled to special consideration from local and state government agencies if a farm is proposed for condemnation, and participating farmers are protected from some “nuisance” challenges.

The program’s handbook also states municipalities are prohibited from enacting local laws or ordinances that would unreasonably restrict farm structures or farm practices within the ASA.

Tompa said being in an ASA would be a way of protecting her investments.

“The property we purchased is a historic property,” she said. “The house is from 1805. It was a farm for hundreds of years, but it wasn’t farmed in 40 years. Trying to get it back on its feet as a farm is an effort. Once we get it on its feet, we don’t want anything to change. We want to be protected and have access to some resources that would help us be better farmers.”

Applicants must have a property of at least a 10 acres or have an anticipated yearly gross income of at least $2,000 from agricultural production.

The applications are processed through the Allegheny County Conservation District and are reviewed by the Allegheny County and Plum planning commissions.

The land to be included must have soils conducive to agriculture and must be used for production of crops, livestock, livestock products, horticultural specialties and/or timber.

Jonathan Burgess, programs and policy director for the county conservation district, said 25 Plum residents representing 22 tax parcels and about 700 acres have petitioned the borough to create a new ASA.

Plum would join Fawn, Frazier, West Deer, North Fayette, South Fayette, Findlay, Forward and North Hills communities with having ASAs, should it be approved.

“ASAs are largely an acknowledgement of the value of local agriculture and open space by the municipality,” Burgess said. “They do not place any restrictions on a property, but they do afford owners some additional protection from eminent domain condemnation, as well as nuisance complaints or targeted ordinances that might violate the state’s ‘Right to Farm,’”

Forming an advisory committee in a municipality is part of the process of establishing an ASA. The committee must include three farmers, a resident and council member.

Council vice president Dave Vento volunteered to chair the committee.

He was expected to be formally voted into that role at this month’s voting session Jan. 11. The other four positions could be filled this month as well.

“It’s something I think would be great to have for economic development,” Vento said.

The borough also is required to post information about ASAs in at least five different locations in the community in order to establish those areas. Applications will be available on the borough’s website.

“There are a number of steps that have to happen,” said borough manager Michael Thomas. “The properties have to be advertised. It has to go before planning commissions. There are a lot of steps here.”

More information about ASAs is available agriculture.pa.gov.