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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-11-11Ag Committee November 11, 2015 Town of Dryden Agriculture Advisory Committee November 11, 2015 Members Present: Evan Carpenter (Chair), Kim LaMotte, Doug Barton, and Joe Osmeloski Liaisons Present: Craig Schutt (Conservation Board), John Kiefer (Planning Board), and Jason Leifer (Town Board) Guests: Debbie Teeter (Cornell Cooperative Extension), David Bravo-Cullen, Craig Anderson The meeting was called to order at 7:40PM. Review and approval of minutes from September 9, 2015: J. Osmeloski moved to approve the minutes which were seconded by D. Barton and unanimously approved. Lansing Ag Plan: Debbie Teeter Ms. Teeter said the Lansing Plan took four years but John Brennan at New York State Ag and Markets stated it was one of the best plans in the State. She recommends the Ag Committee review the plan to see if there is anything in there that Dryden really wants to see included. Ms. Teeter has been working on the Ag Profile and Town information for the Dryden plan. She hopes to have some information for the Committee to look over before the next meeting. Ms. Teeter asked that the liaison to the Planning Board to share what is happening with the Ag Committee. Certain members don’t think they are getting the full update. Ms. Teeter indicated that after the first of the year, a joint meeting of the Planning Board, Conservation Board and Ag Committee should be held to get everyone up to speed on what the Ag Plan is looking like. She also indicated that a consultant can be hired to review the zoning; someone who is familiar with zoning and agriculture will be able to review it quicker and more effectively than the Ag Committee. George Franz is the consultant that helped with the Lansing Plan and Ms. Teeter indicated that they (Cooperative Extension) will help with the Request for Proposals (RFP). She was unable to give an estimate as to the expense of a consultant but should the RFPs come back with an unacceptable expectation, the Committee can do the work themselves. J. Kiefer asked what parts of the Lansing Plan were generated by the consultant. Ms. Teeter said the only part that a consultant would be doing for Dryden is the zoning. The Town of Dryden can generate their own maps and graphics. Ms. Teeter stated that she thinks the Ag Committee has a couple of options: - They can leave everything as is - They can work from the Ag and Markets review that was done a couple of years ago - They can hire a consultant – a consultant can offer suggestions and offer ideas for missing or misplaced ideas - They can ask Ag and Markets to review zoning again but they will not help fix anything – ie suggestions. Ag Committee November 11, 2015 D. Barton offered the following resolution: Whereas, the Dryden Agriculture Advisory Committee is working on a Farmland Protection Plan; and Whereas, the members of the Committee do not have the expertise to analyze the impact the Town of Dryden’s Zoning will have on Agriculture; and Whereas, a review of the zoning is necessary for a successful Farmland Protection Plan, Therefore, let it be resolved that the Dryden Agriculture Advisory Committee requests the Dryden Town Board to work with Cornell Cooperative Extension to create and issue a Request for Proposals for a consultant to review Dryden’s Zoning Ordinance. The motion was seconded by K. LaMotte and unanimously approved. The process: - Get a plan together - Send it to Mr. Brennan at Ag and Markets - Then the Town Board and other interested boards will review it - Public meetings will be held (maybe a couple if necessary) - Town Board will approve it. J. Leifer recommended putting the information out via radio. He said he is going to try to meet with WHCU at least once a month. He also recommended sending information out to Town residents via the Tax Bill mailing. J. Leifer indicated the County has received a $50,000 Agri-Tourism grant. He has emailed a contact to see if the Town of Dryden can get in on the funds. The Natural Resources Conservation Plan: The Conservation Board is putting together a Natural Resources Conservation Plan. At their last meeting, a checklist was distributed covering various areas of natural resources including agricultural aspects. The Ag Committee reviewed the checklist for comments: - The ag section truly doesn’t need to be included with the exception of encouraging farmers to be part of the Agriculture Environmental Management Program through New York State. Most farmers have a plan in place or have one started. - The larger the farm is, the more regulation they already have in place - It appears the checklist might be aimed at the small backyard farms - The Ag Committee is working on an Agriculture Protection Plan - Any farmer who intends to participate in grants and/or once an ag assessment has been granted, the farmer will be required to have a plan The committee reviewed more of the checklist and decided to wait until C. Schutt (Conservation Board liaison) has more information. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:53PM. Ag Committee November 11, 2015 Respectfully Submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk