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, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Law Section 303-a provides for the review of agricultural districts every 8 years after their creation, the time period established upon their creation; and

WHEREAS, Agricultural District No. 3 was created on December 14, 1973 with an 8-year review schedule with its last anniversary date in 2017; and

WHEREAS, consistent with Agriculture and Markets Law Section 303-a, Ulster County published notice of 30-day period for modifications of the District; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (AFBP) has met to consider the continuation of the District and has adopted the required report that recommends the continuation of Agricultural District No. 3 with modification; and  

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature has considered the recommendation of the AFPB contained in its report to the Legislature dated February 28, 2025 as on file with the Clerk of the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County has met its responsibilities under Agriculture and Markets Law regarding notice, reporting, and holding of a public hearing, and

WHEREAS, no new lands are proposed to be added to the District and lands recommended for removal represent less than 0.01% of the total lands in the District; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, in accordance with both the provisions of the State Environmental Quality Review Act, 6 NYCRR Part 617 (SEQRA), the Ulster County Legislature has examined the proposed continuation of the District with proposed modifications and determines it to be an Unlisted Action; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature finds that no significant adverse environmental impacts will occur with the continuation of the Agricultural District No. 3 with modification and that a Negative Declaration is hereby adopted under State Environmental Quality Review Act, 6 NYCRR Part 617 (SEQRA); and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature hereby approves the continuation, with modification, of Agricultural District No. 3 in the Towns of Hardenburgh, Marbletown, Olive, Rochester, Rosendale and Wawarsing in accordance with the recommendation of the AFPB as filed with the Clerk of Legislature, as Agricultural District No. 3 Rondout Creek, Ulster County, with the next anniversary date of July 21, 2033; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County shall submit this resolution, maps and reports as required to the Commissioner of New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets for consideration to determine if it is consistent with New York State environmental plan, policies and objectives and requesting certification of the modified District,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:      

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

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE