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

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

and Wishnick)

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

Committee, Thomas J. Briggs, and Deputy Chairman James F. Maloney 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 for farmers

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

County; and

WHEREAS, during this period, 5 requests were submitted to the Ulster

County Legislature, consisting of 6 parcels with a total of approximately 48 acres;

and

WHEREAS, on May 8, 2014, 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, 2014, 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 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 17, 2014 with no adverse public comments received; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County, along with the Agricultural Farmland Protection

Board, has met its responsibilities regarding notice, reporting, and holding a public

hearing; and 

- Page 2 -

Resolution No. 265 July 15, 2014

Adopting The Inclusion Of Additional Lands In Agricultural

Districts Within Ulster County As Recommended By The Ulster

County Agricultural And Farmland Protection Board – Department

Of Planning

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

State Environmental Quality Review Act (Part 617 NYCRR) is 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, noting this action will result in the

inclusion of all lands submitted to the County Legislature for inclusion; and, be it

further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature is hereby

directed to 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: 21 NOES: 0

 (Absent: Legislators Loughran and Roberts)

Passed Committee: Economic Development, Tourism, Housing, Planning and Transit

on July 1, 2014

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE 

- Page 3 -

Resolution No. 265 July 15, 2014

Adopting The Inclusion Of Additional Lands In Agricultural

Districts Within Ulster County As Recommended By The Ulster

County Agricultural And Farmland Protection Board – Department

Of Planning

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

This is to certify that I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster have compared the

foregoing resolution with the original resolution now on file in the office of said clerk, and which was adopted by said

Legislature on the 15th Day of July, 2014, and that the same is a true and correct transcript of said resolution and of the

whole thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 16th Day of July in

the year Two Thousand and Fourteen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature