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

Committee (Chairman Maloney and Legislators Berky, Delaune, Lapp, Litts, Maio

and Rodriguez)

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

Committee, James F. Maloney, and Deputy Chairman Hector Rodriguez offer the

following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted by the County Executive on

behalf of the Department of Planning; and

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, 12 requests were submitted to the Ulster

County Legislature, consisting of 23 parcels with a total of approximately 367 acres;

and

WHEREAS, on May 6, 2016, 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 12, 2016, 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 and 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 21, 2016 with no public comments received; and 

WHEREAS, Ulster County, and the Agricultural Farmland Protection Board,

has met its responsibilities regarding the annual inclusion of lands in an Agricultural

District including: notice, reporting, and holding of a public hearing; 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 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 totaling 23 parcels and approximately

367 acres; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall 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: 20 NOES: 0

(Absent: Legislators Fabiano, R. Parete and

Roberts) 

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

on July 5, 2016

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE

STATE OF NEW YORK

 ss:

COUNTY OF ULSTER

I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the County of Ulster, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is

the original resolution adopted by the Ulster County Legislature on the 19th Day of July in the year Two Thousand and

Sixteen, and said resolution shall remain on file in the office of said clerk.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the County of Ulster this 20th Day of July in

the year Two Thousand and Sixteen.

|s| Victoria A. Fabella

Victoria A. Fabella, Clerk

Ulster County Legislature