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, consistent with §303(b) of New York Agriculture and Markets Law (AML), Ulster County established an annual 30-day review period from March 1st to March 30th, for farmers to request the inclusion of additional lands in Agricultural Districts within Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, during the review period for 2024, 11 requests were submitted to the Ulster County Legislature, consisting of 20 parcels with a total of approximately 614 acres; and

WHEREAS, on May 15, 2024, the Chairman of the Ulster County Legislature transmitted the requests for inclusion to the Agricultural Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) for their recommendations as required under §303(b) of the AML; and

WHEREAS, the AFPB met and reviewed the requests on May 30, 2024, and after consideration of the factors required under §303(b) of the AML, by a majority vote of its members, recommended the inclusion of additional lands in Agricultural Districts within Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, the Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board has filed this recommendation and supporting documentation with the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature, thereby fulfilling its obligations under §303(b) of the AML; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature held the required public hearing on June 18, 2024; 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 recommendation 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 recommendation of the AFPB 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 11 parcels and approximately 490 acres; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall submit this resolution, a copy of the AFPB report, and other material as required under Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AA – Agricultural Districts, to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, and request that the Commissioner certify the inclusion of these lands in an agricultural district if feasible and in the public interest,       

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:             

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

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE