The Orange County Legislature Rules Committee voted to include a 36.2-acre Walk Hill property in Orange County Agricultural District No. 1 and rejected a separate application from APJ Enterprises of Newburgh LLC after receiving a letter from the Town of Newburgh citing enforcement concerns.

Committee members first moved to split the two enrollment requests so each could be considered separately. The committee approved the Walk Hill application by voice vote after County staff described the parcel as a 36.2-acre site proposed for farm planting and research, including licensed hemp cultivation (New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets license number 36T10). The Ag and Farmland Protection Board had recommended inclusion for the Walk Hill parcel.

The committee then considered the Newburgh application, a separate parcel described in the legislative packet as 13.2 acres with multiple outbuildings. Committee members discussed a May 29, 2025 letter from the Town of Newburgh opposing inclusion, which the town said followed a unanimous 5–0 vote of the town board. The town’s letter cited ongoing enforcement actions and concerns about non‑agricultural storage and activity on the property.

Committee members and staff clarified that inclusion in an agricultural district grants certain protections for agricultural uses (for example, it can affect how nuisance complaints tied to typical farm operations are reviewed) but does not exempt a property from zoning or building-code enforcement for non‑agricultural activities. County staff noted the annual enrollment window for the agricultural district opens March 1 and runs through March; applicants denied in one year may reapply the next enrollment period.

Several legislators said the town’s letter could change the Ag and Farmland Protection Board’s earlier unanimous recommendation on the Newburgh parcel; committee staff said the Ag board was scheduled to meet later that evening and the board could revisit its recommendation. County counsel and other members discussed procedural issues including whether a denial by the legislature would be subject to judicial review (Article 78), and staff noted the commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets ultimately reviews and acts on district inclusions once the county’s process is complete.

On the Newburgh application the committee conducted a roll-call vote after discussion. The recorded responses during the roll call in the transcript were: Pajeong — yes; Keller — no; Vidyo — no; Ramos — no; Ravella — no; Seganga — no. The motion to include the Newburgh parcel failed and the application will not advance to the full legislature from this committee. Staff confirmed that even if the county declines to include a parcel in the district, the complete application materials still get forwarded to the state commissioner for review.

Members said applicants denied by the county can pursue a separate agricultural assessment or reapply for inclusion in the district in a subsequent enrollment cycle. The committee also noted a 120‑day statutory window for county decisions tied to the March 31 notice period; staff said that timeline yields a county deadline of July 29 for final action on this year’s enrollments.

Votes at a glance: Walk Hill parcel (36.2 acres) — approved by committee (voice vote). APJ Enterprises of Newburgh LLC (13.2 acres) — failed in committee following roll-call vote.

The committee closed the meeting after the roll call; the Ag and Farmland Protection Board was scheduled to meet later the same day and could amend its recommendation before the full legislature considers any site that advances.