Referred to: The Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee (Chair Nolan and Legislators Donaldson, Kovacs, Litts, and McCollough)

Chair of the Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee, Kathy Nolan, and Deputy Chair Herbert Litts, III offer the following:

          WHEREAS, effective January 1, 2021, the County entered into a five-year license agreement (the “License”) with the Ulster County Agricultural Society (the “Society”), whereby the County granted to the Society a revocable license to use a portion of property owned by the County, commonly known as the Ulster County Fairgrounds (the “Fairgrounds”) situated on Libertyville Road in the Town of New Paltz; and

WHEREAS, the portion licensed to the Society (the “Premises”) are to be used for the purpose of maintaining and managing the Fairgrounds, and organizing, scheduling and managing events, programs and activities at that location, for the County; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Agricultural Society Board of Directors desires to construct a new Permanent Pavilion; and   

WHEREAS, located near the Youth Building and just across from the end of the Cattle Barn, the 36’ by 70’ Permanent Pavilion design will be a simulated Post and Beam construction to match the look and feel of the rest of the buildings on the grounds; and

WHEREAS, constructing the Permanent Pavilion at the proposed location will not interfere with any other event on the grounds, will result in a yearly cost savings from eliminating the need to erect a food tent that is set up every year for the Ulster County Fair, and will also benefit most of the other events held on property; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Agricultural Society intends to apply for a State grant to cover the cost of the building, and if not awarded or partial funding is obtained, the Ulster County Agricultural Society will cover any and all additional expenses, resulting in no cost to the County; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the License, a copy of which is attached to this Resolution, the Society “shall not construct any major improvements or permanent structures upon the licensed premises without the express written approval of the County Executive and County Legislature” and “such approval shall be granted only upon a majority vote of the Legislature”; and

WHEREAS, further pursuant to the terms of the License, if such approval for construction is granted by the body, the Society is required to comply with paragraph 18 sub-paragraphs (a) through and including (h), and the Society will enter into a written agreement obligating itself to do so; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), this construction is deemed as “agricultural farm management practices, including construction, maintenance and repair of farm buildings and structures, and land use changes consistent with generally accepted principles of farming” and therefore is a Type II action not subject to review under SEQRA, having been determined not to have a significant impact on the environment (6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(2.3)); and

WHEREAS, the construction will be monitored by the Ulster County Department of Public Works, Buildings and Grounds Division, and the Ulster County Safety Office; now, therefore, be it

          RESOLVED, the Ulster County Legislature hereby approves the construction, by the Ulster County Agricultural Society, of a new 36’ by 70’ Permanent Pavilion, on that portion of the Ulster County Fairgrounds currently licensed to the Society, and the Society avers and the Legislature acknowledges that such construction shall be completed at no cost to the County; and, further be it

RESOLVED, the granting of the construction shall be subject to the Society obtaining any and all permits or approvals from any governing entity that may have jurisdiction,  

and moves its adoption. 

       ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

    AYES:                    NOES:    

Passed Committee:  Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation on ____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NO COUNTY COST