HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-09
AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 9, 2019
Members Present: Evan Carpenter (Chair), Kim LaMotte, Marie McRae, Brian Magee
Absent: Steve Foote, Erin Bieber
Liaison(s): Craig Schutt, Conservation Board
Guest(s): Monika Roth, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
The meeting was called to order at 7:42 p.m.
Old Business
M. Roth of CCE-Tompkins produced maps with agricultural overlays. The Committee and M. Roth
reviewed multiple maps and discussed corrections and changes to the maps. Several privately-owned
parcels were coded as Cornell property in error. The point of the Agricultural District is to look at active
agricultural land and where it is concentrated. Discussed different areas and if they should or should
not be in the Ag District. There are some isolated parcels that are not getting ag assessment and are
surrounded by rural land.
M. Roth will go to the assessment office and determine parcel numbers and owners. She will bring that
information back to the Ag Committee for their input prior to the information being given to the
Planning Board for their review. The County Legislature has the final say as to which parcels will be
added or removed.
Being in the Ag District does give someone protection from development; the same as if they were a
farmer. Any time there is a municipal infrastructure that were to go through an Ag District, the rural
landowners are similarly protected. If you have a lot of road frontage in an Ag District, you are limited
on what the municipality can charge you, as you pay only for the area where the house is, not the whole
road frontage. You are exempt from the linear foot charge along the road frontage. M. Roth stated
she is not 100% sure the exemption would apply to non-farming operations.
New Business
Discussed that an email will go out to Committee members approximately 10 days before each meeting
for input on agenda items. It was suggested the Committee review the Ag Protection part of the
Comprehensive Plan to prepare for the future meeting with the consultant, EDR.
Review and approval of minutes dated September 11, 2019
E. Carpenter made a motion to accept the minutes as written, seconded by K. LaMotte and unanimously
approved.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Chrystle Terwilliger
Deputy Town Clerk