HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-07-08July 8, 2015
Ag. Advisory Committee
Draft
Page 1 of 2
Dryden Agriculture Advisory Committee
July 8, 2015
Members Present: Evan Carpenter (Chair), Kim LaMotte, Doug Barton, Joe
Osmeloski, Steve Foote
Liaisons Present: Craig Schutt (Conservation Board), John Kiefer (Planning Board),
and Jason Leifer (Town Board)
The meeting was called to order at 7:45PM
Review of Dairy Days:
- The booth was quieter than the Committee hoped and they brainstormed ideas
to generate more interest.
- A coupon for a free ice cream?
- Borrow the Cornell vet school cow for demonstration purposes?
Zoning:
The Committee started to look at the Town Zoning. The group looked at the use chart
in terms of D. Barton’s farm comparing the Conservation zone to the Agriculture zone.
They continued to review the chart for potential conflicts.
J. Leifer pointed out that there is a difference between being zoned at the Town level
and being in an Ag zone through the County.
The Committee agreed to review the zoning based on the question of whether the
zoning hurt or helped farming.
The difference between properties zoned Ag versus Conservation does not appear to be
significant; many of the uses that require a SUP in Conservation are permitted in the
Ag zone and an ag operation will generally be granted the SUP. Ag and Markets say
that Towns cannot enact laws that create an unreasonable barrier. That doesn’t mean
the localities can’t pass and enforce zoning that will impact farmers. It becomes a
debate as to whether the zoning is unreasonable or not. It might force the farmer to
jump through hoops (SUP) if the farm is in a Conservation zone rather than in an Ag
zone.
D. Barton stated that although he prefers his property be put back in the Ag zone, he
is less unhappy about the zoning than he is about the fact that he was not notified of
the change. The Committee discussed the methods of communication between the
citizens and the Town.
The meeting adjourned at 9PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
July 8, 2015
Ag. Advisory Committee
Draft
Page 2 of 2
Erin A. Bieber
Deputy Town Clerk