Site Assessment for Cropland

The site assessment (SA) component involves three major areas: non-soil factors related to agricultural use of a site, factors related to development pressures, and other factors related to other public values of a site or area. Each rating factor is assigned a range of possible values according to relative attributes of the parcel. This process provides a rational, sound basis for making land-use decisions.

Site Assessment (SA) Factors

The following SA factors are used to assess the relative suitability of the proposed parcel for protection as farmland. SA factors are grouped into three categories:

• SA-1 factors measure non-soil site characteristics related to potential agricultural productivity or practices.
• SA-2 factors measure development or conversion pressures on a site.
• SA-3 factors measure other public values of a site, such as historic, cultural, scenic, or environmental values.

Each factor will be given a rating based on the context of the proposed site or area by examining characteristics of the parcel, surrounding area, and the programs and policies of the State or local unit of government in which the parcel is located. Where more than one alternative is provided for a parcel, each alternative should be evaluated and rated separately. Following are SA factors and scales selected to be used in Montana’s Statewide LESA system.

• SA-1 Factors
  1. Compatibility of Adjacent Uses Factor
  2. Percent in Agricultural Use Factor
  3. Average Size Factor
   
• SA-2 Factors
  4. Proximity to Protected Agricultural Land Factor
  5. Distance to Services Factor
   
• SA-3 Factors
  6. Open Space Strategic Value Factor
  7. Historic Buildings or Archeological Sites Factor
  8. Water Resource Protection Factor
   
• Combining SA Scores

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