The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2017-12-13Dryden Ag Committee December 13, 2017 DRAFT Page 1 of 3 Dryden Agriculture Committee December 13, 2017 Members Present: Evan Carpenter (Chair), Kim LaMotte, and Steve Foote Liaisons: Craig Schutt, Jeremy Sherman, and Nancy Munkenbeck (Conservation Board) Guests: Debbie Teeter and Monika Roth (Cooperative Extension), Bruno Schickel and Dave Farmer The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. M. Roth gave a power point presentation summarizing information • The State has funding for town environmental protection plans; that process began in 2006 • In 2014 a grant was written and it was awarded • Started working on an Agriculture Plan in 2015 State requirements for the plan • Location - what lands do you want to protect • Value of land & open space • Are any areas in threat of being developed (level of development pressure on farms) • Description of programs and strategies • Economic Development Initiatives (recent push by the State) o Any ideas The committee discussed if specific funding might be available for veteran farmers Work Plan Approach-what the Committee has done thus far • Gathered input, had farm meetings during the last years • Surveys from farmers and landowners that receive Ag assessment • Vision and strategies • Looked into development pressure in town (gathered data) • Zoning review and recommendations • Implementation plan The Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan has been emailed to the State Coordinator. To do list in 2018 • Gather agriculture data; number of farms, acreage o Agriculture is strong Dryden Ag Committee December 13, 2017 DRAFT Page 2 of 3 ▪ ¼ of the town is agricultural-owned or rented by farmers & agricultural easement (not all active production) ▪ Come up with a way to fund the Town’s portion of farm land protection grants ▪ 2nd highest Ag sales in the county-$15 million ▪ 100 plus jobs ▪ Farmers are investing in facilities, land, future o Enterprises ▪ 5 Dairy farms (fewer dairies now, but same number of cows) ▪ 10 crop farms ▪ 7 vegetable/fruit farms ▪ 21 livestock/poultry farms ▪ 12 equine farms ▪ 3 ornamental plants/ nurseries Farming challenges were discussed, both internal and external pressures (from the surveys that were done) The Committee will be reviewing the zoning law and recommending changes as identified. • Farm friendly zoning is important • State has funding to hire someone to assist with getting recommendations What lands to protect • The Ag district is already in place, so that’s a priority • The county has prepared an Ag Resource Focus area (map) Implementation of plan ▪ Keep the Agricultural Committee informal ▪ Provide staff ▪ Raise the status of the Ag Committee to Agricultural Board ▪ Honor 2005 plan A public hearing on the “Town of Dryden New York Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan” will be held on December 21 at the Town Board meeting starting at 7:00 pm. Comments on the Agriculture & Farmland Protection Plan ▪ Page 8 - Priority recommendations- inconsistent wording was discussed ▪ Page 45, C,2 -re: solar farm projects, very important to protect actively farmed lands and high quality soil areas Dryden Ag Committee December 13, 2017 DRAFT Page 3 of 3 ▪ N. Munkenbeck spoke about the Ellis Hollow area -Agricultural activities and the water sheds, she’s compiled a list of properties (including acreage) along Cascadilla Creek ▪ Maps are needed showing the Cornell lands, TC# and George Junior lands B. Schickel brought up that 1500 acres had been added as rented farm land and asked where did the acreage come from? ▪ Land has been brought back into production by removing hedgerows, and adding drainage ▪ The question was asked if money is available to move this process forward B. Schickel also asked what is trying to be accomplished by changing the zoning in an agricultural zone; where’s most of the pressure coming from? He stated that he keeps hearing the term “encroaching”. So multi-family homes are not allowed, just single- family homes. • This has to do with “density” and ideas were stated both pro and con for this approach • On page 45, perhaps the section regarding housing needs editing. o Perhaps making some development easier; multi-family homes are not allowed in agricultural zone o Make it more viable/economic to develop somewhere Next step • Look at the zoning laws and decide what makes sense and what doesn’t • Special use permits have a pretty high bar to overcome (with opposition) • Look at page 45, D5 more carefully and decide what recommendations should be made to the Town Board There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45PM. Respectfully submitted, Diane Michaud Deputy Town Clerk