Referred to:  The Public Works and Capital Projects Committee (Chairman Fabiano and Legislators Cahill, Greene, Heppner, and Litts)

Chairman of the Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, Dean J. Fabiano, and Deputy Chair Manna Jo Greene 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 Ag Awareness Building to house all Ag Education materials and displays; and   

WHEREAS, the Ag Awareness Building will be designed to look like a barn, be constructed behind the existing Youth Building, and will be 30 x 60, with a 10-foot porch all the way across the front; and

WHEREAS, this building will be funded by a NYS Department of Ag and Markets Grant; 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 30 x 60 Ag Awareness Building, 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 and Capital Projects on _____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NO COUNTY COST