In 1984, the Mercer County Agricultural Development Board took initial steps toward developing a county Farmland Preservation Program by adopting the Mercer County Agricultural Development Area (ADA) map. This map indicates areas that have the potential for continued agricultural use, but not necessarily for this exclusive use. The completed map was approved in April 1985 and amended in 1990, 2006, 2007, and most recently in 2009 as part of the County’s Comprehensive Farm Preservation Plan. The County updated its Farm Preservation Plan in 2020 but did not make any changes to the ADA. 

Several criteria were used to determine inclusion of land areas within the current ADA, including, but not limited to, existing farmland, proximity to other farmland, existing zoning, soil type and tillable acreage. In addition, the amount of land that can be included is restricted by law to be no more than 90% of the County’s total agricultural land base.

The ADA map has limited regulatory use. It delineates where farmland preservation can occur, and delineates where CADB review of non-agricultural development projects may occur.

More Information

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer