HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-04-11 - PB 1L5
MINUTES
TOWN OF ULYSSES
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
4 / 11 / 2001
PRESENT: Planning Board Chairman George Kennedy, Planning Board Members Lorren
Hammond, Rose Hilbert, Paula Horrigan, David Tyler, Planning Clerk Kahn Lanning,
Town Supervisor Douglas Austic, and Town Board member Sue Poelvoorde .
ALSO PRESENT: Monika Roth and Debbie Teeter of Cornell Cooperative Extension,
and Mr. Sandritter, from the Community.
Chairman George Kennedy called the meeting to order at 7 : 41 pm .
The first order of business before the Planning Board was Monika Roth's presentation to
the Planning Board on the Purchase of Development Rights.
Ms. Roth's presentation covered the study, which C . C. E .T. C . is conducting, on the
direction of local agriculture . According to the study, a majority of local farmers intend
to stay in farming, and plan on keeping their land in agriculture once they personally
retire. Survey responses from local farmers noted that they would seek first to pass the
farm down to the next generation of their own family or sell property to another farmer
before considering selling their land for development purposes. Also from the study: Ms.
Roth noted that the Town of Ulysses is unique among local Towns in the large amount
of agricultural land that is rented , rather than owned , and in the larger percentage of
crop-farming than dairy-farming .
Ms. Roth noted that Purchase of Development Rights is one of many methods that
should be combined to protect farmland, and discussed the process. In considering
projects for State funding, New York State reviews projects according to a series of
guidelines that make it possible to identify priority projects. It is important that counties
and municipalities also approach the application process with established prioritization
guidelines. Ms. Roth discussed farmers' concerns and worries with P. D. R. programs.
Although a majority of farmers in Tompkins County feel the County should look into the
program, farmers often feel intimidated when they find their property has been
identified as a priority for P . D . R. To reassure farmers, it is important that the voluntary
basis of P. D . R. programs be clearly noted . Ms. Roth discussed the rationale behind why
P . D. R. is not desirable to all farmers, noting that the major concern lies with the risks of
not being able to use or sell property for any purpose they choose. Tompkins County,
and particularly the Town of Ulysses are unlikely to receive State funds for P. D. R.
because one of the most important issues that are used to prioritize projects is the
presence of development pressure, which this Town is not clearly undergoing . The level
of development pressure in an area also determines the value of development rights.
Because of its lack of development pressure, development rights in Tompkins County
would be assessed much lower than where intense development pressure is obvious.
Because of this, the amount of money that could be offered for development rights may
not be enough more than what a farmer could gain from selling land for agricultural
purposes to make P. D . R. attractive to him . Throughout the presentation, the Planning
Board Members asked questions, which were answered and discussed by and with the
presenters. In concluding, Ms. Roth and Ms. Teeter asked that the Town of Ulysses
maintain the study map, which shows owned and rented farmland in the Town, and
seek corrections to the same.
The second order of business before the Planning Board was the approval of minutes.
Having noted an adequate quorum for the minutes of February 27m, Mr. Tyler moved,
seconded by Ms. Horrigan to approve the minutes of February 27th as
presented .
Mr. Hammond aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
\t0Q
Ms. Horrigan aye
Mr. Kennedy aye
Mr. Tyler aye
Adopted.
Mr. Kennedy reported that the Town Board has approved the work plan submitted by
George Frantz.
. , ..
Ms. Horrigan was disappointed by the very minimal amount of Planning Board
involvement Mr. Frantz drafted into his work plan . .
Ms. Poelvoorde responded to Ms. Horrigan, by stating that all meetings with the
contractor and the Town and Planning Boards will be joint meetings.
Mr. Hammond moved, seconded by Mr. Tyler to adjourn the meeting.
Mr. Hammond aye
Ms. Hilbert aye
Ms. Horrigan i aye
Mr. Kennedy Jaye
Mr. Tyler aye
The meeting adjourned at 9 : 25 pm .
*These minutes are respectfully submitted as an official summary of the proceedings of
the Ulysses Planning Board meeting of April 11 , 2001 , as observed and understood by
the Ulysses Planning Clerk. As a rule, comments made by individuals are not entered as
quotes, but have been summarized for the purpose of concisely reflecting the Planning
Board business.
Karin T. tanning
Planning Clerk
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