Referred to: The Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee (Chairwoman Sperry and Legislators Clinton, Corcoran, Hewitt, Litts, Stewart and Walls)

Chairwoman of the Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture Committee, Megan Sperry, and Deputy Chair Herbert Litts, III offer the following:

WHEREAS, Ulster County has established a 30-day review period for the addition of lands to Agricultural Districts in accordance with New York Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25AA, Section 303-b; and

WHEREAS, the 30-day application period for the additions of lands to Agricultural Districts as set by the County ended on March 30, 2024; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature received applications from landowners requesting parcels of land be included in Agricultural Districts; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature is required by Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25AA, Section 303-b to refer a request or requests to the Ulster County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board for its review and subsequent report; and

WHEREAS, Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25AA, Section 303-b requires a Public Hearing to be held concerning the addition of one or more parcels of land to Agricultural Districts; and

WHEREAS, Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25AA, Section 303-b also requires directly notifying, in writing, those municipalities whose territory encompasses lands proposed for inclusion in Agricultural Districts; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall act according to NYS Agriculture and Markets Law Section 303-b to cause a legal notice of said Public Hearing to be published, and to provide a copy of the hearing notice in writing,

to all municipalities that have lands proposed for inclusion in Agricultural Districts; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that said Public Hearing will be held on June 18, 2024 at 7:10 PM, or as soon thereafter as the public can be heard, in the Legislative Chambers, Ulster County Office Building, 244 Fair Street, Kingston, New York, and/or via videoconference to the extent allowable pursuant to existing New York State legislation, or order and the Rules of the Ulster County Legislature,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                    NOES:      

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Planning, Education, Employment, Arts and Agriculture on __________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$300.00 – APPROXIMATE ADVERTISING COSTS