Return to Criteria Map
The LESA program has two main components: Land Evaluation and Site Assessment. The land evaluation of a parcel is based
on only one factor: the soils of that parcel. The site assessment depends on three factors: development, farmland, and clustering.
Each factor has a weight which is determined by the individual county. The site assessment factors are further broken down into
criteria determined by the individual county. These criteria are listed below.
			Cumberland County
Land Evaluation
			Soils	50%
The soils score is calculated from the amount of each soil type in a parcel multiplied by the value of that soil. The soil values are the same for
every state of Pennsylvania.
Site Assessment
Development	10%		Farmland	20%		Clustering	20%
Road Frontage	Points		Acreage	Points		Proximity to Other Easements	Points
More than 1 mile	25		200 acres or greater	30		Adjacent	35
1/2 mile to 1 mile	15		150 -199 acres	25		Within 1 mile	20
Less than 1/2 mile	5		100 - 149 acres	20		Within 2 mile	5
			50 - 99 acres	15
Availability of Public Water	Points					Consistent with Important Ag Map	Points
Adjacent	10		Crops, Pasture or Grazing	Points		Within area	35
Within 1 miles	5		91% - 100%	20		Outside area	0
			81% - 90%	15
Availability of Public Sewer	Points		71% - 80%	12		Proximity to Other Applicants	Points
Adjacent	10		61% - 70%	10		Adjacent	20
Within 1 miles	5		Less than 60%	5		Within 1 mile	10
						Within 2 mile	5
Extent of Non-Ag Use	Points		Stewardship	Points
Tract zoned for development	30		Plan fully implemented	20		ASA within 1 mile of Tract	Points
			Conservation on 50% of tract	10		Over 200 acres	10
Development within 1 Mile	Points		Limited or no conservation	0		Less than 200 acres	5
41% - 50%	25
31% - 40%	20		Duration of ownership	Points
21% - 30%	15		Two or more generations	20
10% - 20%	10		Full-time solo operator	15
Less than 10%	5		Part-time operator	10
			Century farm	5
			Historic, Scenic and Envir.	Points
			Exceptional features	10
			Significant features	6
			Favorable features	3