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, Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AAA, Section 324 authorizes the New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to maintain a state agricultural and farmland protection program to provide financial and technical assistance within funds available, to assist counties and municipalities in developing agricultural and farmland protection plans and to assist both in the implementation of such plans; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of these programs is to fund local initiatives that are intended to maintain the economic viability of the State’s agricultural industry and its supporting land base and to protect the environmental and landscape preservation values associated with agriculture; and

WHEREAS, an overarching goal in the Ulster County Open Space Plan is to enhance the viability of existing farming operations, agricultural businesses, and timber harvesting operations and encourage new ones to be formed; and

WHEREAS, a particular goal in the Ulster County Open Space Plan is to support plans, programs, and policies that promote agricultural viability; and

WHEREAS Ulster County was awarded funding in 2022 to update its Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan, by the New York State Department of Agriculture; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Planning Department, working with its consultant and a Project Advisory Committee, and drawing on input received from multiple stakeholder sessions, public survey, and a public information meeting, developed a draft final plan that was provided to the Ulster County Farmland Protection Board for consideration as required under Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AAA, Section 324; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Farmland Protection Board met on January 6, 2025, to review the Plan and voted to pass the Plan on to the Ulster County Legislature for its consideration; and

WHEREAS, Agriculture and Markets Law Article 25-AAA, Section 324 requires the County to conduct at least one public hearing for public input regarding the development of its Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County shall act according to NYS Agriculture and Markets Law Section 324 to cause a legal notice of said Public Hearing for public input on the Ulster County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan to be published; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that the said Public Hearing will be held on March 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM, or as soon thereafter as the public can be heard, in the Legislative Chambers, Ulster County Office Building, 244 Fair Street, Kingston, New York,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:             

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

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