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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-13Dryden Ag Advisory Committee January 13, 2016 Page 1 of 4 Dryden Agriculture Advisory Committee January 13, 2016 Members Present: Kim LaMotte (Vice-Chair), Brian Magee, Joe Osmeloski, Doug Barton, and Steve Foote Town Hall Staff: Ray Burger, Planning Director Guests: Debbie Teeter and Monika Roth, Cornell Cooperative Extension Conservation Board: C. Schutt - Natural Resources Conservation Plan (NRCP) o At the last meeting the Ag Committee reviewed a list of goals specific to agriculture. The committee agreed that the majority of the goals listed will be covered by the Ag Plan but the Conservation Board feels that having the same goals in more than one place will be beneficial. o They determined that they did not agree with the priority ranking of the goals and removed it o They also discussed the scenic resources goal and what qualifies as a scenic resource. - Trails – Varna to the Game Farm are the top priority – they have been working with the Game Farm, Cornell and the local hunting groups to work out a potential agreement Ag Grants: There are a couple of new grant funds - Many of the grants require an AEM plan (Agricultural Environmental Management) - Tompkins County Soil and Water just updated their AEM plan. - For more information on grants that are currently available, it is recommended that folks contact Debbie Teeter. The Agri-tourism grant that J. Leifer suggested last month is not directly available. Cooperative Extension will hold a workshop on either March 8th or 15th to discuss what agri-tourism is and how to manage the risks. The workshop will include a breakout session for discussions and Cooperative Extension will also be doing farm assessments in the next two years to make them more Agri-Tourist ready. Cooperative Extension has sent out a survey to 150 direct market businesses. The survey indicated that most are interested in partnering and promotion; that is a manner in which the County can support Agri- Tourism. C. Schutt recommended that a section of the plan contain contact information regarding grants. D. Teeter shared a couple of documents with the group: The Town of Dryden Agricultural Profile – she has been working off the Lansing Plan but has most of the information adjusted to reflect Dryden. The sections that are highlighted still pertain to Lansing. Dryden Ag and Farmland Protection Plan Goals Town of Lansing Ag & Farmland Protection Plan Implementation Chart Goals and Strategies to Preserve Farmland and Promote Agriculture Dryden Ag Advisory Committee January 13, 2016 Page 2 of 4 M. Roth pointed out that the Plan is not just through the Town. Some of the objectives and goals can be fulfilled via Cooperative Extension or other entities. The entire farm community should meet at least once a year if possible to stay in touch with the farmers and the issues. D. Teeter suggested working on the maps that the farmers want in the Plan: The group reviewed the Lansing Plan and the maps that were included. They decided that the following maps should be included. Zoning Ag District Tax classification codes Soils/soil quality Maps – try to keep solar farms on the poorer soil Public water and sewer New home construction/ farm construction Unique natural and scenic areas Farm land owned and rented Ag Resources Focus Areas – The County has designed some areas but the suggestion was to focus on Dryden areas. This will be expected as part of the plan. K. LaMotte pointed out that the Town’s zoning is not consistent with Ag and Markets Law and the districts. J. Leifer believes that Ag and Markets trump local zoning; a clause can be added to the zoning that states active farms are exempt. The issue is that if a local law restricts a farm activity, the farmer needs to contact Ag and Markets who will respond relatively quickly and will defend the activity on behalf of the farmer. An agreement has always been reached in Tompkins County but the time involved can undermine the farmer and the potential success of the activity. D. Teeter suggested two avenues: first – hire a consultant (the ag plan grant will cover the cost) and second – ask Ag and Markets to review the zoning again. J. Leifer asked for examples where the zoning is restrictive to farmers. D. Teeter said that is something Ag and Markets can provide as they review the zoning (this could be restrictive to farming because….). A definition of what an active farm (agriculture) is will have to be added to zoning – the definition will be the same as Ag and Markets. If a farm operation is in a state ag district then the zoning will not apply. However, even if a farm operation is not in a state ag district, a farmer can apply to Ag and Markets for assistance. K. LaMotte asked R. Burger about the revised definition of multi-family housing and how that will affect agriculture. Mr. Burger responded that the definition is being revised in terms of residential although it has a clause that states the definition does not apply to farm operations. There need to be more definitions – for example a separate definition for farm worker housing versus a boarding house. K. LaMotte asked if, as part of the Ag Plan, the Town can purchase “Right to Farm” signs that can be added to the posts welcoming people to the Town. D. Barton offered the following resolution: Dryden Ag Advisory Committee January 13, 2016 Page 3 of 4 Whereas, the Dryden Agriculture Advisory Committee is working on a Farmland Protection Plan; and Whereas, the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Municipal Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan Development Application, Task 4: Plan Contents, subsection f states the plan will include a “farm friendly audit of town zoning, subdivision, and building codes.” and Whereas, the members of the Ag 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, and Whereas, The Town of Lansing Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan was identified by NYS Ag and Markets as one of the best in the State; and Whereas, the Town of Lansing retained the services of George Franz to review their zoning as it pertained to agriculture and farmland protection; and Whereas, the Town of Dryden has applied for and been granted funding for a Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan, including a review of town zoning; Therefore, let it be resolved that the Dryden Agriculture Advisory Committee requests the Dryden Town Board work with Cornell Cooperative Extension to request the services of George Franz as a consultant to review Dryden’s Zoning Law. The resolution was seconded by J. Osmeloski and passed unanimously. M. Roth suggested that the zoning review should be done by April. She recommended that outreach needs to be scheduled starting with the other Town boards and Committees, the farmers, the community, etc. The Committee reviewed the Town of Lansing Ag & Farmland Protection Plan Implementation Chart: The Committee agreed with the recommendations but did not rank them. J. Leifer asked about the possibility of promoting agriculture via the Recreation department. D. Teeter said that there are two 4-H clubs in Tompkins County. D. Barton said that 20 years ago Tompkins County was the leader of 4-H. Now there aren’t any horse or cow programs and the 4-H Acres are actually considering selling. There isn’t a strong program here anymore. Goal 4-c The State Cap to Ag Ceiling Value has already been passed. Goal 2 – Protect the best land for farming – J. Leifer stated that a developing a fund that could offset the cost of PDRs and LDRs Goals that pertained strictly to Lansing were removed such as Goal 1–a regarding North Lansing. Goal 1-e regarding gas leasing decisions and options was removed since it is not pertinent anymore. Goal 2-d regarding the link between farming and Dryden School District probably not necessary – there are not many farmers producing product that the School can purchase. Goal 2-g regarding USDA slaughter facilities is not an issue here. Review and approval of minutes from November 11, 2015: D. Barton moved to accept the minutes as presented, J. Osmeloski seconded the motion which was unanimously passed. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30PM. Dryden Ag Advisory Committee January 13, 2016 Page 4 of 4 Respectfully submitted, Erin A. Bieber Deputy Town Clerk