Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Northampton) introduced House Bill 1281 that would require municipalities that border the Appalachian Trail to enact zoning and other land use ordinances as part of their responsibility to protect the Trail.

“The legislature enacted legislation back in 1978 calling upon municipalities that border the Appalachian Trail to preserve the natural scenic, historic and esthetic values of the trail, but there was no requirement for them to pass land-use ordinances to enforce that,” Rep. Freeman said. “My legislation will have these bordering municipalities put in place zoning and other land-use measures necessary to preserve those values.”

Rep. Freeman said the legislation was suggested by Easton environmental attorney Chot Elliot and was the result of a situation in Monroe County where a developer purchased land near the Appalachian Trail with the intent of constructing a private automobile racing club.

Since the township where this development was being proposed had no zoning in place, there was little that could be done to block this inappropriate use. The development would have brought noise and other developmental problems to the area, disrupting the pristine setting of the trail.

“By requiring municipalities along the Appalachian Trail to enact good land-use ordinances, we can ensure that a conservation buffer zone will be in place to protect it,” Freeman said. “The trail is one of our state’s greatest scenic assets and must be protected.”

The legislation has 34 bipartisan co-sponsors and is currently under consideration in the House Local Government Committee, which Freeman chairs.

Links: Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Pennsylvania Important Bird Areas

5/11/2007