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Albany County panel approves 11 parcel additions to agricultural districts after brief debate over forested parcels
Summary
A CSGI panel voted unanimously to approve 11 requested additions to Albany County Agricultural Districts 1, 2 and 3. Presenters said the additions were submitted under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law; members questioned whether some parcels were forested rather than actively farmed.
A county panel meeting identified as CSGI approved proposed modifications adding 11 parcels to Albany County Agricultural Districts 1, 2 and 3 after a short discussion about whether some parcels were primarily forested.
Pat Curran, presenter, opened the item, saying, “So for this request in accordance with New York State Ag and Markets Law … 11 requested additions are going to be hopefully approved, to be added to the Albany County agricultural districts.” Curran said the statute requires review and approval by the Albany County Legislature.
An unidentified board member asked about the photos included with the packet and whether it was “normal that the ag district would include forest land,” noting many of the images “looked like forest in a lot of the parcels.” That member said they were concerned about whether tax incentives should apply to parcels that appear to be unmanaged forest rather than working farmland.
Another unidentified board member who said they were “on the board for that bill as well” responded that most of the parcels are farm properties, adding, “9 of the 11 are the Heath Farm in Bethlehem.” The member noted two parcels were livestock properties (one in Berne) and that one forested parcel that had been proposed as a Christmas tree farm had been denied because no planting or production had occurred.
Following the discussion, a member moved to approve the modifications and a second was recorded. The panel approved the changes by voice vote; members answered “Aye,” and no opposition was recorded.
The panel also approved the meeting minutes by voice vote earlier in the session. Both votes were carried without a recorded roll-call tally in the transcript.
Because state law governs additions and removals to agricultural districts, Pat Curran reminded members the county legislature must conduct a review and approval consistent with New York State Agriculture and Markets Law. No other funding, implementation details or conditions were recorded in the discussion.
The meeting adjourned after the votes.
