Donald Kelce
503 Florence Street
Philipsburg, PA 16866


August 7th, 2001


Dear Clean and Green Participant:

I am writing you regarding your participation in the “Clean and Green Act” (Act 319 – Farmland and Forest Land Assessment Act of 1974).

I am a private property owner in Worth Township and have been a participant in “Clean and Green” since 1995.  As you know, ever-increasing property taxes place a burden on all property owners, especially those who own ten or more acres.  The “Clean and Green” tax break has allowed me, as I am sure it has helped you, to continue ownership of our property.

My concern in this letter is the threat that the proposed Worth Township Zoning Ordinance poses to participants of “Clean and Green.”  If the proposed Zoning Ordinance is passed, much of Worth Township will be zoned with five (5) acre minimum lot sizes.  Consequently, any “Clean and Green” participant who splits-off property (5 acres) in a five acre minimum zone will be required to pay roll-back taxes on the entire portion of land originally enrolled in the program.

I checked with the Centre County Tax Assessment Office regarding my liability; if I were to give one of my children a piece of property, a five-acre lot, the minimum required by the proposed ordinance, my tax liability would be nearly $20,000.

Although you may not be considering splitting a lot off at this time, I hope you will stand by other “Clean and Green” participants who are threatened by the proposed Worth Township Zoning Ordinance.  The Worth Township Planning Commission is only accepting written comment until August 29th.  I hope you will act promptly on this matter. 

I am including a template of the letter that I am writing to have the minimum lot requirements of the zoning ordinance lowered to meet the requirements of the “Clean and Green Act.”  To determine how the five acre minimum lot sizes in the proposed zoning ordinance affect your situation, contact the Centre County Tax Assessment Office at (814)355-6721.  Please contact the appropriate officials today.  By spending a dollar for stamps now, you may save yourself thousands of dollars in the future.

Thank you for your time.