HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-07-28-AG COMMITTEE MINUTES APPROVEDTown of Ulysses Ag Committee
Meeting Agenda
July 28, 2016
7:30 pm
I. 7:38 pm Call to order
II. 7:30-7:35 Roll call
Present: Mr. Chang, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Wertis, Supervisor Liz Thomas, Ulysses Staff Michelle E. Wright
Excused: Mr. Gates
Present at 7:53pm: Ms. Cail
III. 7:35-7:40 Announcements
Mr. Wertis presented several documents to share
o Mr. Wertis asked if members could take the survey and return to Ms. Wright before the next
meeting.
Ms. Wright provided a copy of the mailing to be sent out 7/29
Mr. Chang: suggestion for the next meeting how does the current drought affect agriculture? For future
droughts? Are there water use policies that either protect or restrict farmers’ use of water?
Ms. Thomas: the Re-zoning Steering Committee is working on a draft document on recommendation
regarding ag zoning updates. Ms. Thomas estimated that they would likely need another two meetings
for review and then it would be available for the Ag Committee.
IV. 7:40-7:45 Approval of draft minutes from last meeting
BE IT RESOLVED that the Ulysses Ag Committee approve the minutes of June 23rd, 2016
Moved: Mr. Wertis
Second: Mr. Chaw
Cail AYE
Chang AYE
Gates ABSENT
Reynolds AYE
Wertis AYE
Minutes approved.
V. Open issues
a) 7:45-8:15 Review of Responses to points in Steering Committee Minutes
Mr. Reynolds reviewed the points he responded to
Ms. Thomas suggested a prioritization of ag conservation techniques
o Ms. Cail responded that the ways in which to preserve farmland aren’t a good fit for the town
due to the variety of agriculture and non-traditional development pressures (i.e. the “large
developer”)
o Discussion of land use controls and zoning approaches
o Mr. Wertis volunteered to create a list of prioritized zoning techniques to give to the Steering
Committee
o Ms. Cail volunteered to create a prioritized list of non-zoning techniques for ag land
preservation and rewriting of Mr. Reynolds response to point 1
b) 8:15-8:25 Right to Farm zoning resolution
Clarification regarding changes to zones outside of the project scope of the current Zoning Steering
Committee, the Town Board would need to be the body to do so.
Resolution from the first meeting, discussion
o Vast majority of lands being discussed are already protected by State Right To Farm Law
o Mr. Chaw volunteered to rewrite this resolution
Right to Farm Sign resolution
o General discussion
c) 8:25-8:40 Further discussion of handling Ag complaints (draft resolution from Ag committee and
possible suggestion for town’s role beyond ag committee)
Tabled for a future meeting
VI. New business
a) 8:40-9:00 Model Zoning for Solar development re: Ag land preservation
Two model zoning laws that NYSERDA has prepared
o Ms. Cail suggested the Ag Committee reviews each one and potentially suggested that Darby
and Town Board take a look at it to possibly improve what is currently written in zoning law.
o For the record: Ms. Cail is requesting that the model zoning laws and Chris Carrick’s
statement that Ms. Cail distributed via email is sent to Darby Kiley, Roxanne Marino and the
Planning Board
The Ag Committee is interested in what the aforementioned people think about it, and
would appreciate if individuals could provide feedback/opinion
The document is a model ordinance for PV that has a farmland preservation
component to it
b) 9:00-9:25 Agricultural Land Mitigation Ordinances proposal and ideas
Mr. Reynolds’ point #13
Discussion regarding impact fees, laws around them and if it’s possible to use them to fund farmland
preservation. Agreement that further research and professional advice was needed.
VII. 9:47 Adjournment