Referred to: The Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit

Committee (Chairman Briggs and Legislators Allen, Archer, Bartels, Litts, Maio, and

Maloney)

Chairman of the Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning, and Transit

Committee, Thomas J. Briggs, and Deputy Chairman James F. Maloney offer the

following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted by the County Executive on

behalf of the Department of Planning; and

WHEREAS, consistent with §303(b) of New York Agriculture and Markets

Law (AML), Ulster County established an annual 30-day review period for farmers

to request the inclusion of additional lands in Agricultural Districts within Ulster

County; and

WHEREAS, during this period, 11 requests were submitted to the Ulster

County Legislature, consisting of 18 parcels with a total of approximately 784 acres;

and

WHEREAS, on May 8, 2015, the Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature

transmitted the requests for inclusion to the Agricultural Farmland Protection Board

for their recommendations as required under §303(b) of the AML; and

WHEREAS, the Agricultural Farmland Protection Board met and reviewed

the requests on May 14, 2015, and took the necessary actions by a majority of its

members as required under the AML, to recommend the inclusion of lands in

Agricultural Districts within Ulster County that consist of predominately viable

agricultural land, and determined that the inclusion of such land would serve the

public interest by assisting in maintaining a viable agricultural industry within the

district; and

WHEREAS, the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board has filed these

recommendations/results and supporting documentation with the Clerk of the Ulster

County Legislature; and

WHEREAS , The Ulster County Legislature held the required public hearing

on June 16, 2015 with no public comments received; and 

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature and the Agricultural Farmland

Protection Board have met their responsibilities regarding the annual inclusion of

lands in an Agricultural District including: notice, reporting, and holding of a public

hearing; and

WHEREAS, the addition of lands to Agricultural Districts with respect to the

State Environmental Quality Review Act (Part 617 NYCRR) are considered an

Unlisted Action and an Environmental Assessment Form has been completed and

filed with the Clerk of the Legislature; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature finds, after review of the

Environmental Assessment Form and the recommendations of the Agricultural

Farmland Protection Board, for the inclusion of lands within agricultural districts, as

filed with the Clerk of the Legislature, that no significant adverse environmental

impacts will occur as a result of this action and a Negative Declaration is adopted

under NYCRR Part 617.7 (SEQRA); and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature adopts the recommendations

of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, as filed with the Clerk of the

Ulster County Legislature, which includes the placement of additional lands within

existing agricultural districts in Ulster County totaling 16 parcels and approximately

646 acres, noting this action will result in the inclusion of all lands submitted to the

County Legislature with the exception of the Woodstock Animal Sanctuary located

in the Town of Rochester that was not recommended for inclusion; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall submit this

resolution, a copy of the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board report and other

material as required under Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA –

Agricultural Districts, to the Commissioner of Agriculture, and request that the

Commissioner certify the inclusion of these lands in an agriculture district if feasible

and in the public interest,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES: 22 NOES: 0

(Absent: Legislator Maio)

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Planning and Transit on July

7, 2015

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is

the original resolution adopted by the Ulster County Legislature on the 21st Day of July in the year Two Thousand and

Fifteen, and said resolution shall remain on file in the office of said clerk.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 23rd Day of July in

the year Two Thousand and Fifteen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature