Farmland & Open Space Preservation

The Farmland & Open Space Preservation Committee will meet at 7:00 pm on February 12, April 9, July 9, and October 8, 2026. All are invited to attend these meetings which are held at the Township Building (3256 Levans Road, Coplay, PA 18037). To view our most recent agenda please click HERE.

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There are two ways to preserve land in North Whitehall Township.

1. The Farmland Preservation program administered by the county using state, county, and township funds designated for farmland preservation. If the farmland does not meet county and state requirements, it can be preserved through the township.

2. The township's Open Space Preservation program for non-farmland handled directly by the Farmland & Open Space Preservation Committee.

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What is Farmland Preservation? Farmland Preservation places an agricultural conservation easement on your property (minimum of ten farmable acres) which is a permanent legal restriction that limits future uses to agricultural purposes. There are many benefits to preserving your land! The landowner is financially compensated for preserving land and it permanently protects a family's farmland from being lost to future non-agricultural development. Families who join the Farmland Preservation program still own and operate their land, can pass the property onto family members when the time comes, or can sell the property, while preventing future development. One additional home is permitted to be built for a family member(s) or farm employee(s) once the land is preserved.

What is Open Space Preservation? Open Space Preservation is for properties that do not qualify under the Farmland Preservation program. Wooded areas, wetlands, pasture land, and meadows might fall into this group. This allows residents to protect property from future development, while retaining ownership of the land, and allows for a variety of rural activities. Open Space Preservation is not the purchase of land by the state, county or township. It is only the purchase of the "development rights" which keeps the land from being developed. The property can be sold at any time after preservation as preserved open space, and it cannot be developed. Certain improvements can be allowed within narrow guidelines established when the property is preserved. Once again, it is important to note the purchase is of the conservation easements. The property owner retains full ownership of the land. The property owner can also choose to exclude certain areas of their property from the easement.

What is the process? The first step towards preserving your land is to complete and return an Agricultural Security Area (ASA) application. After receiving your application, you are entered into a 180-day waiting period before the land can be officially added into the townships ASA property list. At that point, you can apply for Farmland & Open Space Preservation if you would like to preserve your land. There is a link to both of these applications at the bottom of this page.

What is an Agricultural Security Area (ASA)? ASA’s are intended to promote more permanent and viable farming operations in a community. It provides protection from nuisance ordinances, limits the ability to ever have your land condemned for new schools, roads, parks, or other governmental project, and is the first step in preserving your land, if you choose to do so. Having land enrolled in an ASA does not put any restrictions on the property and does not affect the landowner's ability sell the property or to use his or her property for non-agricultural development purposes.

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A little bit of history...In 2019, the voters of North Whitehall Township approved a new tax (0.1 mill) to be used for Farmland and Open Space Preservation which generates approximately $160,000 in revenue annually. These funds are placed in a restricted account that may not be used for other Township purposes. North Whitehall Township currently has 142 parcels in Agricultural Security Areas and twelve preserved properties. The most recently preserved property, the Muth Farm, was preserved in 2025 and added 77.49 acres of preserved land to the township. The township now has preserved 730.75 acres of land for future generations to enjoy (as of 12/10/25). In 2026, we anticipate preserving an additional 200 acres bringing us to over 900 preserved acres!

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Please reach out to Mike Kukitz, Director of Grants, Preservation and Trails, at 610-799-3411 or by email at mkukitz@northwhitehall.org if you have any questions or would like more information.

Maps

• NWT Agricultural Security Areas Map
• NWT Preservation Map
• NWT Preserved Property, Recreation & Other Undeveloped Areas Map

Applications & Documents

• ASA Application
• ASA Application Instructions
• What is an Agricultural Security Area (ASA)
• Farmland / Open Space Program Application Form
• AG Conservation Easement Application (Lehigh County)
• AG Conservation Easement Frequently Asked Questions
• Bicentennial & Century Farm Application - Recognition for long standing family farms