Grand Island board reviews broad revisions to agricultural rules, right-to-farm language

The Grand Island Town Board and members of the agriculture advisory board reviewed a package of proposed changes to local agricultural code at a recent meeting, focusing on two sections, cited in drafts as 407.144 and 407.145, and how the town’s rules intersect with New York State Ag & Markets guidance.

The proposed amendments would delete several prescriptive lines from 407.145 and replace them with a density-based approach aligned with agricultural management practice guidance, and would clarify that some protections and reduced scrutiny should apply to properties inside Ag Districts, officials said.

Sheila, identified at the meeting as the agriculture advisory board chair, said the revisions reflect work completed with county and state partners and a locally adopted resource guide. “The Grand Island Town Board previously approved the resource guide for farmland protection,”…