HomeMy WebLinkAboutHollenshead Subdivision Request Memo Packet
Franklin County Planning Department
272 North Second Street
Chambersburg, PA 17201
Phone: 717-261-3855
Fax: 717-264-8667
Email: planning@franklincountypa.gov
Memo
To: Franklin County Agricultural Land Preservation Board
From: Quentin Clapper
Planning Director
Date: August 27, 2026
Re: Hollenshead Request for Subdivision
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Members of the Board:
The Planning Department has completed its review of the subdivision request submitted by Shase Hollenshead
for the easement identified as County Acquisition #134 and State Acquisition #5238 originally preserved by
Ray Hollenshead et al in 2018 with State funding. The request seeks to subdivide 8.28 acres of the easement
and tie it to 1.72 acres of land previously excluded from the preserved easement.
According to the regulations of the program found at 7 Pa. Code 138e.201(a) and 138e.204(a) the county board
has the primary responsibility to and shall enforce the terms of each easement purchased under the program.
The deed of conservation easement, included under cover of this memo, establishes the terms of the easement.
In consideration of the sum paid, the land was restricted, among other things, to those subdivision requirements
established by the Franklin County Land Preservation Boards program guidelines, as approved and accepted by
the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, in place at the time of the easement being granted.
These program regulations set the minimum standards for parcels created by subdivision of a preserved farm to
be no less than 100 acres.
In light of the facts presented, along with consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and
legal counsel, it is strongly recommended that it would be in the best interest of the Franklin County
Agricultural Land Preservation Board and of the program itself to not deviate from the program guidelines to
ensure enforceability of easement terms for all farms and uphold the duties of the board established in
regulation.
Recommendation: Deny the request for subdivision due to non-compliance with the terms of the easement.
Dear Ag Board,
The property consists of approximately 130 acres enrolled in the Agricultural Land Preservation Program.
As you have already reviewed through the survey and proposed boundary plan, we are requesting that
approximately 10 acres currently included in the preserved farm parcel be added to the existing
residential parcel containing the farmhouse. The agricultural conservation easement would remain in
place, and no additional development rights would be created as part of this adjustment.
The purpose of this request is not to remove preserved farmland from the program, but to correct an
impractical boundary situation that was created during a prior subdivision. The current property line
runs directly through an existing agricultural building, creating an unusual and difficult ownership
situation. In addition, the farmhouse parcel currently controls the water and electric service that
supports the agricultural improvements located on the adjacent acreage. Adjusting the boundary would
align the property lines with the way the farm is actually used and maintained.
We believe this adjustment would strengthen the long-term viability and stewardship of the farm. The
remaining approximately 120 acres would continue as a contiguous preserved agricultural operation,
and the requested adjustment would not result in additional fragmentation or development.
As an additional consideration, there is a potential 2.5-acre residential lot opportunity that could be
created from the preserved acreage. We could potentially be willing to permanently forgo that
opportunity as part of this request. We believe eliminating that potential future residential use is
consistent with the goals of farmland preservation by reducing the possibility of future fragmentation
and keeping the farm intact for agricultural purposes.
My grandmother, as the current landowner, feels strongly that addressing this issue now is the
responsible decision for the future of the farm. Her goal is to leave behind a clear and practical property
arrangement that allows future generations to continue caring for and operating the farm without
unnecessary disputes caused by an impractical boundary.
She is concerned that leaving the current configuration unresolved could create avoidable disagreements
in the future regarding ownership, maintenance responsibilities, and the direction of the property. By
correcting the boundary while everyone is in agreement, we believe we are protecting both the integrity
of the farm and the long-term goals of the Agricultural Land Preservation Program.
I appreciate your time on this unique situation and believe the proposed adjustment represents a
responsible solution that maintains the intent of farmland preservation while resolving an existing
property issue.
Thanks again,
Shase Hollenshead
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